An Australian MP Says Sorry for Calling Chinese Officials Mongrels and Bastards
Australian legislator and mining tycoon Clive Palmer has "most sincerely" apologized for a blistering attack on the Chinese government, reports the BBC. During a live debate shown last week by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the 60-year-old billionaire  whose own Palmer United Party holds the balance of power in Australia's Senate  slammed Chinese officials as "bastards" and "mongrels" who "shoot their own people.", "They're communist, they shoot their own people, they haven't got a justice system and they want to take over this country," he said at the time. "The Chinese government wants to bring workers here to destroy our wage system  they want to take over our ports and get our resources for free  I don't mind standing up against the Chinese bastards and stopping them from doing it.", China is Australia's top trading partner, and Palmer's tirade prompted a fierce backlash in a state-linked Chinese newspaper, the Global Times. His remarks were also criticized by other Australian politicians. "Mr. Palmer's comments are offensive, they are unnecessary, and it's unacceptable for a Member of Parliament to make such comments, particularly on a national television program," said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on the radio. In a letter to the Chinese ambassador revealed Tuesday, Palmer said, "I regret any hurt or anguish such comments may have caused any party and I look forward to greater peace and understanding in the future."