Here’s a humorous riddle submitted by internet users: “Among all the islands belonging to the Republic of China, which one absolutely cannot be downgraded to a reef?”
Taiwan Island? No! Green Island? No! Kinmen Archipelago? No! Penghu Archipelago? No! Matsu Islands? No! Or could it be Diaoyu Tai—that island jointly subjected to backroom dealings by Japan and America? Of course not!
The answer is Lanyu (Orchid Island)!
Because… calling it “Lan-jiao” (Lanyu Reef) just sounds terrible.
[Note: This is a Chinese pun—“蘭礁” (Lan-jiao, Lanyu Reef) sounds awkward and inappropriate, which is why Lanyu cannot be “downgraded” from island to reef status]