“This is Orwellian nonsense and part of a growing trend by the Chinese Communist Party to impose its political views on American citizens and private companies,’’ she said at the weekend in a statement.

She was referring to reports that international airlines have been told to remove all references on their websites and in other material that might suggest Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are separate or independent from China.

International airlines risk curbs if they refuse to obey ‘one-China’ rules

I am confused twice over. Why is it Orwellian and also nonsensical to consider Hong Kong and Macau as part of China when they clearly are Chinese territories? That’s even the official policy of the United States, unless there has been a change. If so, we ought to be told.

Also, every country in the world recognises the Chinese sovereign reality of Hong Kong and Macau, too. But then, it’s the Donald Trump White House, where things get weirder than the American TV cult classic The Twilight Zone. So, you never know.

As for Taiwan, I admit there could be disagreement among some US government officials. But then, perhaps Trump’s America should really put its money where its mouth is.

Trump has moved against international consensus by going ahead with a plan to relocate the American embassy to Jerusalem, thereby giving recognition to the Holy City as Israel’s capital.

Perhaps he wants to move the American embassy from Beijing to Taipei as well, no? If not, the one-China policy still holds for Americans. In that case, Taiwan is Chinese sovereign territory.

I can only conclude that Sanders actually had no idea what she was talking about. 

Pressure mounts on White House press secretary after stories shift

Perhaps “Orwellian nonsense” is a phrase that best describes the many statements coming from this press secretary.

US comedian Michelle Wolf best describes Sanders as Aunt Lydia, the terrifying disciplinarian in the TV adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s Orwellian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale.“I love you as Aunt Lydia,” she said of Sanders during a comic roasting of some of Trump’s closest aides at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “I think she’s very resourceful. But she burns facts and then she uses that ash to create a perfect smoky eye.”

And here we are, as Sanders burns more facts about China before our very eyes.