WASHINGTON — The behavior of Chinese tourists abroad has been something of a sore spot for Beijing in recent years. Now Xi Jinping, China’s president, has waded into the debate with a request: Please stop eating so many instant noodles.
‘‘Let me interrupt and say something here,’’ Xi was reported to have said during an official visit to the Maldives, according to Bloomberg News. ‘‘We should also educate our citizens to be civilized when traveling abroad. Don’t litter water bottles, don’t destroy their coral reef. Eat less instant noodles and more local seafood.’’
Xi’s comments were lighthearted and reportedly provoked laughter. However, as the Wall Street Journal’s China Real Time blog points out, they were prompted by real-life events.
Last year, the South China Morning Post reported that a number of luxury resorts in the Maldives had begun limiting the hot water available to Chinese tourists, in a bid to stop them from eating instant noodles instead of ordering room service.