SYDNEY: Australian tycoon Clive Palmer on Tuesday apologised for calling the Chinese government “mongrels” who “shoot their own people” after a fierce backlash from Beijing and politicians in Canberra.

The billionaire coal baron, who was elected to parliament last year as head of the Palmer United Party, had also called the Chinese “bastards” who “want to take over this country” in a televised tirade earlier this month.

China is Australia’s largest trading partner and his comments were slammed as “hugely damaging” by senior Australian politicians, while Chinese state media urged Beijing to “teach Canberra a lesson”.

“I most sincerely apologise for any insult to Chinese people caused by any of the language I used during my appearance on the ABC television programme Q&A,” Palmer said in a letter to China’s ambassador to Australia, Ma Zhaoxu.

“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. “The Chinese embassy said any criticism of Beijing would not win support.”

“Ambassador Ma stressed that the Chinese people are never to be insulted,” it said in a statement.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014