Applicants from China -- Requirement for Pinyin???

Is this a mistake?  Do they mean simplified Chinese?  

Pinyin is a system of writing Chinese words phonetically with the same alphabet we use to write English (and many European languages).  It is used to help non-Chinese learn to pronounce the language.  It is not widely used in China by Chinese.  My wife is an interpreter, and although she knows some Pinyin, she isn't good at it.  The only way she could meet this requirement was with my help, since I am using Pinyin to learn the language, and know it better than she does. 

What have others done?  Did you actually use the real Pinyin, or did you think this meant written Chinese?

Thanks,

B47 

Strangely, the guides sometimes say to use English and written Chinese, sometimes English and Pinyin but omit mention of written Chinese; and sometimes Chinese and either Pinyin or English. There's no apparent logic to it.  It's just plain weird. The various forms were amended at different times. Perhaps the policy has been changed because of the relative uselessness of Pinyin, but the change has only been reflected in the forms that have been revised most recently.

It's sometimes said that consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. I guess that means me. I can't help second guessing these requirements when inconsistencies appear -- I keep thinking there must be a reason . . . 

B47 

How about the PR applicant are from other countries and they speak/write their own languages, do they have to write their own languages on the forms when asked as well?

Thank you & Regards,