Snowden says he undersands the Mandarin language and culture. He would have stayed in an area with Mandarin.
Wikipedia
⬇︎
Mandarin Chinese is spoken by more than 1 billion people, making it the most widely spoken language in the world. While it may be obvious that Mandarin Chinese is heavily spoken in Asian countries, it might surprise you how many Overseas Chinese communities exist around the world. Ranging from areas in the United States to South Africa to Nicaragua, Mandarin Chinese can be heard on the streets.
Official Language
It is the official language of Mainland China and Taiwan.
It is also one of the official languages of Singapore and the United Nations.
Significant Presence in Asia
Mandarin is also spoken in many of the Overseas Chinese communities throughout the world. There are an estimated 40 million Chinese living overseas, mostly in Asian countries (about 30 million). Areas where Mandarin Chinese is has a large presence but is not the official language include Indonesia, southern Vietnam, and Malaysia.