United While they last -based news platform CNN wants a geography lesson after complicated Taiwan for Thailand, or more particularly, Taipei for Bangkok.
The multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, confused Thailand for Taiwan several occasions during their live broadcast countdown to New Year’s Day
CNN Hong Kong reporter Kristie Lu Stout asked her Taiwan counterpart in Taipei, Will Ripley, how the celebrations have been going in Thailand, which is one hour behind.
On screen, the headline at 1.03am flashed “Thailand’s Capital Welcomes 2023” because the fireworks extravaganza at Taiwan’s Taipei 101 tower received underway.
CNN gaff central followed that up at 1.09am with one other howler. The onscreen caption that flashed up read “Bangkok celebrates 2023,” while nonetheless displaying fireworks from Taipei.
Mistake No.3 occurred at three.37am which showed a picture of fireworks in Thailand, but labelled the placement “Bangkok, Taiwan.”
Screenshots of the gaffs have been shortly snapped and uploaded on social media. Needless to say, they went viral.
Taiwanese commentator Sean Su was watching events unfold within the Grand Hyatt Taipei. He seen Lu Stout was asking Ripley about Thailand however he would reply with details about Taipei.
At 1.06am Ripley realized the mistake and asked Stout…
“Oh my God, are we speaking about Bangkok or Taiwan?”
Without waiting for a reply, Ripley listed his favorite road meals stand in Taipei before altering the subject to street meals excursions in Thailand.
Social media wags had a good time making enjoyable of the pair.
On Twitter users had a area day rewriting their botched captions:
“Thaipei is the capital of Thaiwan, a country led by Thai Ing-wen.”
“Amazing, have seen loads of Taiwan-Thailand mix-ups but never Bangkok, Taiwan….”
“Taipei is Thai! Taipei has always been Thai!’”
Remarks on Taiwan Reddit were similarly sarcastic:
“Can’t offend China if they are speaking about Thailand.”
“Wait, wait, wait… so the capital of Thailand is Taipei, Taiwan? Taiwan is a province of Thailand now? And much more outrageous, the capital city is now not Bangkok but Taipei?!”
“The US will certainly defend Thailand…! or… was it Taiwan? Ah, no matter, can’t discover both on the map anyway!”
The news is hardly surprising. In October CNN completely disregarded Thai and police protocol when reporting on the daycare massacre in Thailand.
The platform pulled a story on the massacre, where 24 children have been killed, and forced to apologise after they filmed against the law scene with out permission.
Thai police fined two CNN journalists after authorities discovered they had been working within the nation after coming into on vacationer visas. They also disregarded police tape surrounding the daycare centre, entered the constructing and began filming..