The new British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is making headlines after confusing himself about where his wife, Lucia Guo, actually came from.
Hunt made the “terrible” gaffe in his inaugural visit to Beijing on Monday.
“My wife is Japanese — my wife is Chinese,” Hunt said and retracted before prominent Chinese leaders, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi. “That’s a terrible mistake to make.”
He then tried to minimize his mistake by demonstrating knowledge of his wife’s background.
“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.”
Jeremy Hunt’s wife, Lucia Guo, comes from Xi’an, China. pic.twitter.com/MVfkhdj4xr
— Russian Market (@russian_market) July 9, 2018
Hunt and Guo married in July 2009. They have a son and two daughters.
Hunt is in Beijing to strengthen trade ties between the UK and China ahead of the former’s exit from the European Union next year, according to AFP.
His visit also involved discussions on climate change and U.N. sanctions against North Korea, Politico noted.
Brexit, China’s rising power, boosting trade, important consular cases & human rights on the agenda for my meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing today pic.twitter.com/pORvaJgRJL
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 30, 2018
Hunt, a former health minister, took office after Boris Johnson resigned in a letter that surprised Prime Minister Theresa May on July 9.
For describing his Chinese wife erroneously, Hunt appeared to be following the footsteps of his predecessor, who was also known for his gaffes, CNN said.
