33,000 ft Diplomacy

Scene: On a Thai Airways flight from BKK to LHR. A young British man is sat at the back of a plane surrounded by Chinese schoolchildren from YunNan Province. A conversation strikes up.

CH Girl: Can you help me fill out my landing card?

UK: Sure. Here, fill out China and write P.R.C so they clearly know you are from that China. In the UK they get a bit confused because there are two Chinas.

CH Girl: Why is your Chinese good?

UK: Well, actually its terrible but I've learnt a little whilst living in Taiwan Guo. Its a very beautiful country.

CH Girl: You keep talking about this Taiwan Guo. What is that? Is it our Taiwan province or another country I don't know?

UK: No, its the Taiwan you call a province but what I call an independent country.

CH Girl: We don't learn that Taiwan is a country. *Cue whispers with classmates and puzzled giggles*

UK: That's because your Government and teachers want you to think that about Taiwan. *no further comment*

Friendly kids - very normal teenagers. Photos were taken at the end. Warning was given by UK not to distribute said photos to Chinese police / Security Services. *wink*