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Clive Palmer Apologises To China’s Ambassador For Q&A Outburst

Clive Palmer has apologised to China over his remarks on the ABC program Q&A last week.

Palmer wrote to Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, China’s Ambassador to Australia, to say he regretted “any hurt or anguish” his comments “may have caused any party”.

In his appearance on Q&A, Palmer called the Chinese “mongrels” and “bastards”. He said the “communists” were trying to take over Australia’s ports and steal Australia’s resources.

Following his remarks, Palmer was attacked for endangering Australia’s national interest, although he was supported by Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie who claimed a Chinese invasion of Australia was likely.

In his letter, Palmer said: “I now come to the realisation that what I said on Q&A was an insult to Chinese people everywhere and I wish to assure them they have my most genuine and sincere apology.”

The Chinese Embassy released a statement quoting their Ambassador, Ma Zhaoxu: “Ambassador Ma stressed that the Chinese people are never to be insulted. Any remarks attacking or slandering China would not gain support and were doomed to failure.”

  • Clive Palmer’s remarks on Q&A:

Clive Palmer’s letter to Ma Zhaoxu, China’s Ambassador to Australia.

Palmer letter

Statement from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Australia.

Clive Palmer apologizes for insulting Chinese

Zhaoxu

On August 26, Australian MP Clive Palmer sent a letter of apology to the Chinese Ambassador Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, offering a genuine and sincere apology for insulting the Chinese people in a recent media interview.

Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu pointed out that after Mr. Palmer’s media interview, the Chinese government expressed its strong indignation and severe condemnation at Palmer’s insulting remarks. The Chinese community in Australia also strongly protested against his wrong remarks. The Australian government and people from all walks of life also expressed their strong condemnation and emphasized that Palmer’s insulting remarks on China could by no means represent the Australian government and parliament, let alone its people.

Ambassador Ma stressed that the Chinese people are never to be insulted. Any remarks attacking or slandering China would not gain support and were doomed to failure. The healthy and stable development of China-Australia relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and cannot be overturned by any individual.

AustralianPolitics.com
Malcolm Farnsworth
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