Jun 17 2019 by Business Insider
A top UBS economist made a joke about a "Chinese pig," sparking a fierce backlash that resulted in his suspension and the Swiss bank losing out on a $1 billion bond sale.
Pigs are celebrated in the Chinese Zodiac and featured in classic Chinese literature.
However, several insults revolved around pigs, including "da ben zhu" or "big stupid pig" for someone clumsy and stupid.
China's current strained relationship with the West may also have been a factor.
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