Jeremy Hunt appears to forget which country his wife is from during meeting in China

If you thought that Jeremy Hunt would make a great replacement for Boris Johnson as UK foreign secretary, then his massive faux pas during his China debut may give you pause.

Hunt may have been trying to win some favour with his Chinese hosts by mentioning his Chinese wife, but erroneously referred to her as 'Japanese'.

Really, Jeremy? You're the foreign secretary and you're going to get your wife's nationality wrong?

This tremendously awkward debut in China will no doubt be spoken of for years to come, as it becomes increasingly clear that the pre-requisite of this job is to be totally oblivious and stupid - for reference, see the entirety of Boris Johnson's lamentable career.

It's never good to get the two countries confused, let alone during a high-profile visit, considering their shared bloody history, which involves the occupation of parts of China in 1930s and 40s.

Hunt told the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi:

My wife is Japanese – my wife is Chinese. That’s a terrible mistake to make.

My wife is Chinese and my children are half-Chinese and so we have Chinese grandparents who live in Xian and strong family connections in China. 

Suffice it to say, the reaction on social media has been brutal(ly funny):

Keep up the good work or. rather, consider finding a new career path.