ASIA / PACIFIC
July 17, 2017
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 3
“Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” and the U.N. have a new rhyme
PIKOTARO PROMO. Japanese comedian Piko-
taro greets journalists before meeting with Japan’s
foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, at the ministry in To-
kyo. Pikotaro, who gained global fame with his “Pen-
Pineapple-Apple-Pen” (PPAP) song, debuted a new
version of PPAP to promote sustainable development
at the United Nations. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
By Mari Yamaguchi
The Associated Press
T
OKYO — “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-
Pen” (PPAP) and the U.N. are
rhyming.
Japanese comedian Pikotaro has
adapted his catchy song to promote the
United Nations’ sustainable development
goals. The original went viral last year
after pop star Justin Bieber tweeted that it
was his favorite video.
Pikotaro, in his trademark leopard-
lizard design outfit, was a bit reserved at
an appearance alongside the more
conservatively dressed foreign minister
Fumio Kishida.
The PPAP star beamed at the invitation
to accompany the diplomat to New York
and pledged to do his utmost for the
awareness campaign. The U.N. version,
“SDGs,” debuted in mid-July.
At first, Pikotaro seemed unconvinced.
“Do you mean the U.N., one that is in New
York? Me? Are you sure?” he asked
half-jokingly. Kishida reassured him it
was a Japan-hosted reception at the U.N.
headquarters where he would be per-
forming.
The U.N. action plan sets goals for
fighting poverty, climate change, and
other global challenges. Kishida said he
needs to boost awareness for the project in
which every citizen needs to help.
“Pikotaro-san’s popularity would be
extremely effective to boost public
recognition,” Kishida told him.
Pikotaro said it would be a challenge to
achieve all the goals, but he was happy to
accept the Foreign Ministry’s appointment
to the promotional role and help by doing
what he does best. “Something easy that
encourages people to watch and follow
[the] example.”
He also gave Kishida a brief posing
lesson, demonstrating hand gestures
showing 17 development project areas as
the minister struggled to copy Pikotaro.
There was no dancing lesson, however.
In the PPAP song, Pikotaro mimics
stabbing a pen into an apple and a
pineapple while singing simple English
lyrics and dancing to a catchy beat.
China says U.S. has apologized for Taiwan name gaffe
By Didi Tang
The Associated Press
EIJING — The United States has apologized for
mistakenly describing Chinese President Xi
Jinping as the leader of Taiwan, China said.
Chinese scholars said the error shows a lack of
competence in the White House that is not conducive to
healthy U.S.-China relations.
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China
asked the United States for an explanation of the mistake,
and the U.S. said it was a technical error. Washington
apologized and corrected the error, Geng said at a daily
news briefing.
In a statement issued about a meeting in Germany
between Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump, the White
House press office described Xi as president of the
Republic of China, the formal name for Taiwan.
Communist China, led by Xi, is called the People’s
Republic of China.
The issue is particularly sensitive because Beijing
insists that Taiwan is part of its territory.
“It is basic knowledge for those working in diplomacy,
yet this isolated incident shows how incompetent the
White House staff are, how casual they are, and how
poorly coordinated they are,” said Shi Yinhong, a
professor of international relations at China Renmin
University. “It will only make the Chinese people look
down upon the American government for it to make such a
low-level mistake.”
The gaffe has gone largely unreported in China because
the local media have no motivation to mock Trump, Shi
said.
Wang Dong, an associate professor in the school of
international studies at elite Peking University, said he
believes the error was not intentional, but still reveals a
lack of capacity in Trump’s foreign policy team while key
positions remain unfilled.
“It shows the deficiency in the professionalism on the
part of the White House staff in terms of diplomacy,”
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Wang said. “The mistake itself may not affect China-U.S.
relations, but the White House should draw a lesson from
it to improve its work flow. It’s a politically sensitive
mistake that should not have occurred.”
The mistake occurred in the introduction to the
statement and was not in the actual text. Within two days,
the White House had altered the statement to read simply
“President Xi of China.”
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The staff at
The Asian
Reporter
wish you
and your
family a
happy and
safe summer
break!
LOW-LEVEL MISTAKE. U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and
Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, arrive for a meeting on the sidelines
of the G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. The United States apologized
for mistakenly describing Xi as the leader of Taiwan, China said. Chinese
scholars say the mistake shows a lack of competence in the White House
that is not conducive to healthy U.S.-China relations. (Saul Loeb/Pool
Photo via AP)
then-Chinese President Hu Jintao, a White House
announcer said the national anthem of the Republic of
China would be played, instead of the People’s Republic of
China. The correct anthem was used.
Other actions by Trump toward Taiwan have drawn
Beijing’s ire.
Upending long-standing diplomatic protocol, Trump
accepted a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese
President Tsai Ing-wen in December and questioned the
wisdom of the “one-China policy” under which
Washington maintains only unofficial relations with
Taiwan. Then in June, to Beijing’s indignation, his
administration approved a $1.4 billion arms sale to
Taiwan, which separated from mainland China in 1949
during a civil war.
Almost six months into office, Trump has yet to fill
thousands of government positions. His White House staff
in particular has been faulted for poor organization.