Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. Photo: VCG

Canada's excuse of calling the bat emblem on its diplomat's Wuhan T-shirt a "misunderstanding" was unconvincing, and Canada should provide a clear explanation to China as soon as possible, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. 

"We find it hard to believe that the relevant staff member, as a senior diplomat who has worked and lived in China for many years, could make such a stupid mistake unconsciously," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at Wednesday's media briefing. 

Wang said that the wrongful acts of the relevant Canadian personnel have caused severe adverse effects and aroused strong resentment and dissatisfaction from Chinese people. The Canadian side should take this matter seriously and give China a clear explanation as soon as possible, Wang said.

Wang's remarks came after a spokesperson for Canada's foreign service said, "We regret the misunderstanding," in response to the diplomat's T-shirt incident.

According to Reuters, the spokesperson said the T-shirt logo designed by a member of the embassy shows "a stylised W," and "is not intended to represent a bat." It was created for the team of embassy staff working on the repatriation of Canadians from Wuhan in early 2020.

The W logo was an emblem of American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. 

Some Western media, including Reuters, said Beijing was "highly sensitive" about the source of the virus, and has sought to "cast doubt on the notion that it originated in China."

However, Wu-Tang Clan has previously used that "W" symbol to represent bats in its promotions. In 2019, the American group tweeted a promotional poster featuring the "W" logo with a Batman and several bats. 

On Amazon.com, a type of bat themed T-shirt from Wu-Tang Clan was still available on Wednesday.  

Global Times