A: This is also what we feel difficult to understand. So I suggest you ask officials of the South Korean Embassy why they did this.

Interestingly, it seems that Huntsman should have been celebrating his nomination as ambassador to China in... well, China.

First of all, on behalf of the State Council Information Office, I wish to extend warm welcome to foreign diplomats, press officials and friends from Chinese and foreign media circles.

His tenure, the longest of any American ambassador in the People' s Republic, was remarkable for being so unremarkable. He was an agreeable conduit.

Today we have invited some veteran diplomats, renowned scholars, diplomatic envoys and friends from the media.