WIX Archives
How (not ?) to greet Chinese Dignitaries!
Posted by MM on Tue Oct 23, 2001 09:24:18 PM
In reply top Re: chinese spitfires............... posted by MM on Tue Oct 23, 2001 09:04:54 PM
I remembered this that I found at the Air Forces Monthly forum a couple of weeks ago....very funny......
Message
Jonesy (337 posts)
04-10-01, 10:09 AM (GMT)
"How to Greet Chinese Dignitaries 10..."
Found this in the tabloid press over here and laughed my a&se off. Its off topic but I think some here might get a chuckle or two out of it as well!.
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THE Royal Navy stunned a Chinese admiral by greeting his men with the flag of their deadliest ENEMY.
Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier Ark Royal accidentally welcomed them with an 8ft by 5ft Taiwan flag.
Navy chief Sir Nigel Essenhigh looked on as the Chinese gawped in horror - and top brass were forced to make a grovelling apology. A source said: "It was the equivalent of flying a Nazi swastika if the German navy came here."
Disaster struck as Rear Admiral Wu Fuchun, commander of China's East Coast Fleet, led a three-day goodwill visit to Portsmouth.
The event was considered so important by top brass that HMS Ark Royal - the Navy's flagship - was ordered to meet the delegation.
The head of the Navy, First Sea Lord Sir Nigel Essenhigh, was on hand to welcome Admiral Wu.
Ark Royal was supposed to run up China's flag - a red ensign with five yellow stars - as Wu stepped on board. But the Chinese were instead greeted with a red flag adorned with a white sun on a blue background - the ensign of Taiwan.
The island broke away from China more than 50 years ago and the two states have been on a war footing ever since.
The flag was immediately hauled down after Chinese officers pointed out the blunder. A Navy insider said last night: "It was extremely embarrassing.
"And it was the worst possible flag to have been flying as regards the Chinese.
"The flag of the Peoples Republic of China was ordered up for the visit of the Chinese Navy to Portsmouth. It seems the Taiwan pennant had been put in the box marked Peoples Republic of China by mistake."
But top brass denied a report the Chinese had stormed off Ark Royal after "heated exchanges" about the foul-up. One senior officer said last night: "They were not exactly impressed, to put it mildly. But there was nothing malicious or intentional about it.
"And it certainly wasn't done deliberately as a prank or as a mark of disrespect.
"There were no rows and the Chinese accepted our apologies."
An investigation is under way but Navy chiefs insist no one will face disciplinary action. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: "This was a genuine mistake and we profusely apologised to the Chinese rear admiral - and this was accepted.
"The incident has not affected the good will and good relationships generated by the visit."
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It was an "accident" right....and I'm Napolean Bonaparte
There is a tradition in the RN of pulling off practical jokes and seeing how close to the wire it is possible to get. Someone somewhere has managed to switch these flags, is feeling very pleased with him or herself, and is due shortly to become a living legend in the Mob!!!
Regs,
Steve