The Chinese embassy in Australia has labelled Clive Palmer’s stinging verbal attack on the country as “absurd” and “irresponsible”.
On the ABC’s Q&A program last night, Mr Palmer called the Chinese government “bastards” and “mongrels” and claimed they “shoot their own people”.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy told the ABC the comments “were full of ignorance and prejudice”.
“We believe that a sound China-Australian relationship serves the fundamental interests of both countries. It is and will always be supported by the two peoples,” the spokesman added.
The mining magnate and MP, whose Palmer United Party wields crucial balance-of-power votes in the Senate, was responding to questions about his bitter legal battle with a Chinese state-owned company.
Federal Cabinet ministers and the West Australian Premier have also lined up to condemn Mr Palmer’s stinging verbal attack.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Fairfax Radio she planned to tell the Chinese embassy the Australian Parliament does not share Mr Palmer’s “abusive” views.
“It really isn’t appropriate for him to use a national television program to vent his bitterness about a legal dispute he is having with a Chinese company,” Ms Bishop said.
Treasurer Joe Hockey described Mr Palmer’s comments as “hugely damaging”.
“I’d say to Mr Palmer, please do not bring down the rest of Australia because of your biases,” Mr Hockey said.
“They are a business partner for Australia, they’re our biggest trading partner, they buy a lot of our produce, and in doing so they help to lift the quality of life for everyday Australians.”
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has also criticised the remarks.
“Clive started with a company called China First. He wanted to make a lot of money out of dealing with China. You can’t blame the Chinese for being tough business people, that’s what business is about. But the emotive and colourful language are not the way you do business,” he said.
Trade Minister Andrew Robb says the Government is reassuring China that it “greatly values Australia’s strong and growing relationship with China and its people”.
“The Abbott Government warmly looks forward to the official visit by president Xi Jinping later this year, ahead of the G20 in Brisbane,” Mr Robb said in a statement released this afternoon.
“Peripheral issues will not distract the Government in its work to broaden and deepen this most important relationship.”
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has said he will personally apologise to China.
“I’ll be issuing an explanation to the Chinese embassy in Canberra,” he said.
“From West Australia’s point of view we totally repudiate the comments that Mr Palmer has made, and I will extend an apology to the Chinese on that basis.”
Professor Han Feng from the China Academy of Social Sciences says Mr Palmer’s comments are unlikely to hurt Australia’s relationship with China.
“I think the Chinese government will definitely be not happy with this because of the hurt from unreasonable accusations and abuse towards Chinese people, but he only represents himself,” Professor Han said.
“He doesn’t represent the majority of Australian people nor the Australian Government.
“There will be a direct impact in his business with Chinese companies because he politicised a simple business problem.”
source: abc.net.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 