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Chinese Influencer Apologizes for Cooking a “Certain Dish”

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Global Recap
November 29, 2023 • Read in: 7 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

People: How can a dish offend so many people? After all, it’s just food, right?

China: …

In today’s In-Depth section, we dive into the crazy story of a chef who cooked the wrong meal at the wrong time, sparking outrage among Chinese people for disrespecting the revered founder of their nation: Mao Zedong.

That’s a big no-no in China.

🌐 Around the world:

  • US aircraft downed in Japan.

  • India’s assassination plot in the US.

  • Pro-Russian politician stripped of citizenship.

  • More hostages released by Hamas.

  • Chinese influencer apologizes for cooking a “certain dish.”

Let’s get into today’s news.

🛩️ US Aircraft Downed in Japan

A US Air Force Osprey aircraft crashed into the sea off Japan on Wednesday, killing one crew member and leaving seven others missing.

  • The Aircraft: The Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter, but fly like an airplane.

  • Cause: The cause of the crash is unknown. The Osprey had requested an emergency landing at a nearby airport before disappearing from radar.

  • Controversy: The Osprey has a history of accidents around the world, with Japan not being an exception. A crash in 2016 sparked complaints from local residents in Japan.

🇮🇳 India’s Assassination Plot

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

An indictment was unsealed on Wednesday, revealing a conspiracy to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York City.

The plot was allegedly directed by an unnamed senior field officer in India’s security and intelligence services. But the charges were directed at another person.

This story is wild.

  • Suspect: Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national who hired a hitman to kill Pannun for $100,000.

  • Target: Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen and leader of Sikhs for Justice, a group that advocates for an independent Sikh state in India.

  • How did he get caught?

    • Gupta contacted who he thought was a criminal associate, but who was actually a confidential informant for US law enforcement, to find an assassin to kill the target.

    • The informant then introduced Gupta to an assassin; who was really an undercover cop.

🇲🇩 Pro-Russian Politician Stripped of Citizenship

Alexandr Kalinin, wearing a military uniform with the letter Z, a symbol of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has revoked the citizenship of Alexandr Kalinin, a pro-Russian politician who collected aid for Russian troops in Ukraine.

  • Recruitment: Kalinin was accused of joining the armed forces of a foreign state, which is illegal in Moldova.

  • Support: Kalinin openly supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and wears a military uniform with the letter Z, which is used by the Russian army.

🏥 More Hostages Released

Hamas released a total of 16 hostages on the last day of the agreed-on ceasefire.

  • Late Wednesday, Hamas released 10 Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals.

  • Earlier on Wednesday, 2 Russian-Israeli women were released separately.

  • In return, Israel freed 30 Palestinian prisoners from its jails.

Meanwhile, mediators are pushing to extend the ceasefire, as it was set to expire on Wednesday. There is no news of an extension yet.

  • Reminder: Israel agreed to extend the ceasefire by one day for every 10 hostages released by Hamas.

China

Chinese Influencer Apologizes for Cooking a “Certain Dish”

Wang Gang

A Chinese internet chef stirred up controversy by cooking a simple but sensitive dish of… egg-fried rice.

🔥 The Backlash. Wang Gang, a popular online influencer who livestreams cooking shows, faced a public outcry after he prepared egg-fried rice on November 27.

🍳 A Dish of Dissent. The dish is associated with the death of Mao Anying, the eldest son of the founder of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong. Anying was killed by a US air strike while eating it during the Korean War.

Mao Zedong, left, Mao Anying, right.

✏️ The Story. On the morning of November 25, 1950, Mao Anying decided to cook egg-fried rice for breakfast. This was against the rules, which stated that cooking should only be done at night to avoid attracting attention from American air raids. This allegedly caught the attention of American bombers, leading to his death.

👊 What’s the Problem? Some Chinese internet users use egg-fried rice as a form of protest against the government, especially around the time of Mao Anying’s birthday or death. They post recipes or pictures of the dish or eat it in public, to express their dissatisfaction with the regime and its policies.

🙏 The Apology. Wang quickly posted a video apology to his more than five million followers across multiple social media platforms. He claimed ignorance of the dish’s taboo and swore off it forever. 

  • Perhaps to make his apology more sincere, he also revealed his grandfather to be a veteran of the Korean War, describing him as a “holy saint.”

  • He also praised China’s People’s Liberation Army as “incomparably sacred.”