Jeremy Hunt makes ‘terrible’ error after calling his Chinese wife Japanese ‘My wife is Japanese – my wife is Chinese. That’s a terrible mistake to make,’ he said

Britain’s new Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has already started his role on a sour note after calling his Chinese wife Japanese during a debut trip to China.

The former Health Secretary is married to Lucia Guo, with whom he has three children.

“My wife is Japanese – my wife is Chinese. That’s a terrible mistake to make,” he told the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

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“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,” he added.

A ‘terrible’ error

China and Japan have been historic rivals for centuries and although relations have improved recently, events such as the latter’s occupation of Chinese land in the 1930s mean the countries still have a somewhat fraught relationship.

Hunt, who was on his first official trip to China since taking over the reigns from gaffe-prone Boris Johnson, immediately called his faux pas a “terrible” error.

New role

Johnson dramatically resigned as Foreign Secretary earlier this month after disagreeing with Theresa May’s Chequers Brexit plan.

Hunt is in China to strengthen trade ties with Beijing ahead of Britain’s departure from the European Union next year.

Potential topics of conversation include “the importance of multilateralism and free trade and ways the UK and China can work together on global challenges such as climate change, development, security and non-proliferation and enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea,” his office said.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Hunt said: “The UK and China are both major powers with a global perspective. As the UK leaves the EU and becomes ever-more outward-looking, we are committed to deepening this vital partnership for the 21st century.”