U.S. Diplomat Hanscom Smith Weds Eric Lu

A same-sex marriage in San Francisco is making waves in China.

Hanscom Smith, the United States consul general in Shanghai, recently wed his partner Lu Yingzong, or Eric Lu, at City Hall in San Francisco.

The New York Times reports that their nuptials have sparked conversation in China about same-sex marriage, which is not legal in the Asian country. Lu is from Taipei, the capital city of the neighboring island nation of Taiwan.

Chinese media outlets have reported on the wedding, and photographs posted to the U.S. consul general's blog have became a lightning rod for the issue

"Respect any type of love," one user wrote alongside a heart emoji.

In 2014, Brian Davidson, the British consul general, also caused a stir after marrying his partner in Beijing.

In 2015, several same-sex couples travelled from China to Los Angeles to marry, in protest of the Chinese government's lack of legal recognition.