Katie Sackaria, the new U.S. White House spokesperson who claims to have worked at a law firm in Beijing, said China lacks "proper bathrooms." The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by inviting her to visit China more often, while she is currently facing scrutiny over her legal qualifications and credentials.
Katie Sackaria, the new U.S. White House spokesperson, made a remark implying that China lacks "proper bathrooms" during an interview released on 15 Oct. The comment came less than a week after she was appointed to the position.
Sackaria, 41, who previously lived in China, recalled the U.S. political atmosphere in 2016 when predictions suggested China was about to surpass the U.S. as a global superpower.
"At that time, everyone told us that Hillary (Clinton) would win the election, that America's golden era was over, and that China was about to become the superpower," Sackaria said in an interview with Jack Posobiec, a prominent U.S. right-wing influencer.
She added, "I remember this clearly because I had just returned from China and wondered how China could become the next superpower when they didn't even have proper bathrooms yet."
On Friday, 16 October, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to the comment by inviting Sackaria to visit China again. Speaking to reporters, he said, "We welcome her to visit China more often when the opportunity arises," while appearing to suppress a smile during the response.
Sackaria's remarks come amid years of competition and conflict between the U.S. and China, covering issues such as trade, technology, Taiwan, and human rights, despite U.S. President Donald Trump frequently stating he has a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The two leaders met twice this year, and at a summit in Washington in September, they discussed topics ranging from artificial intelligence and trade to the ongoing war in Iran. They confirmed plans to meet a third and fourth time this year, though tensions between the two countries remain high.
Sackaria is under investigation regarding her background and legal qualifications after she was unable to clearly confirm having passed any state bar exam, a requirement for practicing law in the U.S.
She claims to be a lawyer and has shown information indicating she served as chief legal counsel for a conservative nonprofit organization in California. She also states that she worked at a law firm in Beijing.
When asked about her legal background on Thursday, Sackaria said she had registered to take the bar exam but faced turmoil and pressure preparing to move to China with her husband, so she did not proceed. She added that after returning to the U.S., she did not retake the exam because she gave birth to her first child.
Previously, Sackaria held her first White House press briefing on Tuesday, answering questions from only three reporters. Her debut drew criticism from some observers who felt she gave unclear answers to basic questions and at one point appeared to refer to her husband as the president.
Sackaria succeeded Caroline Leavitt, a close Trump supporter known for aggressively confronting reporters. Leavitt resigned in August to care for her young child.
Sackaria is scheduled to visit China next month, making her bathroom comment a focal point of increased interest surrounding this trip amid the complex relations between the two superpowers.
.SourceAFP