On March 22, Global Times published its version of the verbal feud that was going on for the past two days between the Chinese Embassy in France and French Senator Alain Richard. Occasioned by Alain Richard's planned visit to Taiwan, it said French media outlets and members of parliament launched a fierce attack against the Chinese Embassy in France and the Chinese Ambassador, Lu Shaye. French researcher Antoine Bondaz, lauding the decision, tweeted to the Chinese Embassy: "Un gros, gros bisous à vous ainsi qu'à vos trolls," which means "A big, big kiss to you and your trolls." The Chinese Embassy then responded in French on its official Twitter, saying "petite frappe," meaning "little rascal". It said "It is France's extreme forces that are crossing the line by planning a visit of senators to the island of Taiwan while simultaneously blaming the Chinese Embassy in France for voicing opposition. How does the arrogance come from? Do those radical forces still think we live in the same world as 100 years ago?"

(Comment: Chinese Ambassador Lu Shaye was summoned to the French Foreign Ministry but did not show up on March 23.)