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Timepieces may be a good idea for a gift in most parts, but not in Chinese custom.

Netizens are outraged that Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen received a clock on Sunday during her stopover in Houston. She was presented with a clock emblazoned with the Texas state seal, by Texas governor Greg Abbott.

To the Chinese, giving a clock to someone is considered a huge no-no, as the words for "give a clock" (送鐘) sound like the ones for "attending someone's funeral." (送终)

Timepieces are also considered symbols of time running out for the other party, and a suggestion of an end of a relationship.

Some Taiwanese and Asian-Americans are reacting in annoyance:

Fuji Chang says: "Giving her a clock? This is so humiliating -- I don't like Tsai Ing-wen, but I don't like other countries screwing her like this! Terrible Americans."

Pema Hsu says: "Heavens, it's so inauspicious that the Texas governor gave Tsai a clock."

But plenty more people have shrugged it off, saying it's a dated superstition:

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Soo Juhong says: "We're living in modern times -- being superstitious over a clock is lame."

Sun Chyi-an said sarcastically: "Tsai goes to America, meets the Texas governor who gives her a clock -- this is really sending her administration to its end! Even the Americans want to sound a death knell to the Tsai administration. Hopefully they don't drag the whole of Taiwan down with it."

The cultural gaffe echoes the one committed by Susan Kramer in Taipei, who was then the British Minister of State for Transport. Last year, Kramer gave Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je a timepiece, which he responded to by calling it a "piece of junk." Ko later apologised for his reaction, saying it was a joke in bad taste.

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