(Setting: a Boeing 747-400 double-decker, flying from Los Angeles to Taipei.)

Eleven hours into the flight, I am stirred from my blissful sleep by a flight attendant. I fleetingly wonder whether she was a model before she joined China Air.

She apologizes profusely for disturbing me. “Mr. Krstić,” she says, handing me a menu printed on expensive decorative paper, “we have two breakfast options for you this morning: Western and Chinese. Which would you prefer?”

Without looking at the menu, I answer “Western,” thank her, and return to sleep.

Shortly before landing, I flip through the menu to marvel at the design. The breakfast options catch my eye. The one I chose is called “Western delight”.

The other one?

“Chinese superiority.”