A Chinese government official is getting backlash on Twitter for saying Taiwan is part of China since they eat dumplings and noodles.
Since Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last week, conversation surrounding the qualification of Taiwan as a country has sparked again.
The relationship between China and Taiwan is a complicated one.
China maintains that Taiwan is a territory while Taiwan asserts it is an independent democratically governed island.
But in recent years, China has become more aggressive about 'reunifying' China and Taiwan by imposing military pressure through military drills.
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Hua Chunying, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, tweeted on Sunday saying "Baidu Maps show that there are 38 Shandong dumpling restaurants and 67 Shanxi noodle restaurants in Taipei."
"Palates don't cheat. #Taiwan has always been a part of China. The long lost child will eventually return home." The tweet continued
\u201cBaidu Maps show that there are 38 Shandong dumpling restaurants and 67 Shanxi noodle restaurants in Taipei. Palates don't cheat. #Taiwan has always been a part of China. The long lost child will eventually return home.\u201d— Hua Chunying \u534e\u6625\u83b9 (@Hua Chunying \u534e\u6625\u83b9) 1659882457
People responded to Chunying's tweet mocking and scolding her for using 'palettes' as a reason Taiwan belongs to China.
Taking a page from her book, many pointed to the hundreds of non-Chinese restaurants in China and asked if that meant other countries should take over China.
\u201c@SpokespersonCHN Google Maps lists 200+ KFC restaurants in greater Beijing. Palates don't cheat. China has always been a part of Kentucky. The long lost child will eventually return home.\u201d— Hua Chunying \u534e\u6625\u83b9 (@Hua Chunying \u534e\u6625\u83b9) 1659882457
"Man, if that’s true, we long ago colonized China through Kentucky Fried Chicken", Emily wrote.
"3,500 Mcdonalds in China. 8,000 KFCs in China. 1,200 burger kings in China. 2,500 pizza huts in China. 5,400 Starbucks in China. Your country belongs to us and soon we will come to collect." Another Twitter user said.
\u201c@SpokespersonCHN Kentucky Fried Chicken has always been ranked as number 1 restaurants by people in China. Palates don't cheat. China belongs to Kentucky. Mitch McConnell please come and collect your people.\u201d— Hua Chunying \u534e\u6625\u83b9 (@Hua Chunying \u534e\u6625\u83b9) 1659882457
\u201c@SpokespersonCHN Many Taipei streets are named after Chinese mainland cities and provinces. Tsai and her DPP cohorts cannot fool people.\u201d— Hua Chunying \u534e\u6625\u83b9 (@Hua Chunying \u534e\u6625\u83b9) 1659882457
The debate between Taiwan's status in relation to China is becoming more contentious as the US has pledged to backup Taiwan with military support should they need it.
Pelosi's trip furthered angered Chinese officials who warned the US that interfering between the two could have consequences.
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