Britain's new foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt's foray into international politics is off to an embarrassing start. Trying to establish a personal relationship with his Chinese counterparts during a visit to China, Hunt charmingly exclaimed, "My wife is Japanese".
While this blunder would have been a catastrophe (as China and Japan are bitter rivals) on its own, what makes it hilarious is that his wife, Lucia Guo, is actually Chinese!
Hunt at a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said, "My wife is Japanese - my wife is Chinese."
However, he was quick to realise his mistake as he immediately added, "Sorry, that's a terrible mistake to make." Those at the meeting laughed off his mistake.
"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," British news agency BBC quoted him as saying.
Hunt, who succeeded Boris Johnson as foreign secretary after the latter quit unceremoniously over disagreement on Britain's plan for the Brexit, is on his maiden visit to China in a bid to strengthen trade ties with Beijing ahead of Britain's exit from the European Union next year.