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Clive Palmer won’t apologise for Chinese “mongrel” comments

“GOODBYE”. Clive Palmer hung up on a radio host today after a volatile interview saw the politician dig an even deeper hole over THOSE Chinese “mongrel” comments.

Matt YoungMatt Young
@MattYoung
6 min read
August 20, 2014 - 8:07AM
L-R: Q & A host Tony Jones, Penny Wong and Clive Palmer, who called the Chinese Government "mongrels" and "bastards".
L-R: Q & A host Tony Jones, Penny Wong and Clive Palmer, who called the Chinese Government "mongrels" and "bastards".

CLIVE Palmer has released a statement on his comments over those Chinese “mongrels”, backtracking and almost apologising for the offence he caused almost 48-hours earlier.

In the statement, Mr Palmer reiterated the point that his comments on ABC’s Q & A program were “not directed at the Chinese community”.

“I have been an admirer of China and its people for many years,” he wrote.

“The country’s art, culture, technology and economic advancements are something to behold, as are the virtues the Chinese people have for their families and the lives of so many.”

He mentioned Chinese-born Western Australia senator Dio Wang, claiming the Palmer United Party were “very fortunate to have in its ranks Australia’s first mainland-born Chinese senator”.

EARLIER, Mr Palmer has hung up on an Australian radio announcer during a volatile interview surrounding his controversial Chinese “mongrels” comments.

Talking to Geoff Hutchison on 720 ABC Perth, Mr Palmer continued to defend himself against criticism for labelling the Chinese government as “bastards”, but hung up when Mr Hutchison probed him over Tasmanian PUP senator Jacqui Lambie’s equally-controversial comments that Australia needs to prepare for a Chinese invasion.

“I’d refer you back to Julie Bishop’s comment ...,” Mr Palmer began before being diverted back to the topic by Mr Hutchison.

“No I’d like you to comment on your own senator’s remarks please.”

Mr Palmer responded: “I’ll do what I want to”.

“How about you being accountable for comments made by your senator?” asked Mr Hutchison.

“I’m accountable to my comments as a citizen of this country, and she’s a citizen of Australia too. If she wants to make a comment that’s fine. I’m talking about the Foreign Minister of this country,” retorted Mr Palmer.

“Well I’m talking about Jacqui Lambie”, said a defiant Mr Hutchison.

Clive ended on: “I don't want to talk about that, because I don’t have to. Goodbye.”

EARLIER, Mr Palmer has denied flying to Perth to patch his relationship with the Palmer United Party’s Chinese-born Western Australia senator, Dio Wang.

Mr Palmer flew to the west coast yesterday after he labelled the Chinese government “mongrels” and “bastards”, but denied even having a conversation with Mr Wang about the controversy.

“We just had a drink, that’s all,” Mr Palmer told 6PR.

“I came to Perth to visit Dio and have a look around. I’m Australian. I can do that.

“We didn’t discuss that at all. We discussed what was important to Western Australia. Dio’s a courageous, very capable guy.”

Zhenya Dio Wang with Clive Palmer.
Zhenya Dio Wang with Clive Palmer.

Yet Mr Palmer’s comments are in stark contrast to Mr Wang’s chat with Perth Now yesterday.

PerthNow tracked down Mr Wang, whose Chinese name is Zhenya — to his East Perth constituency office, where after a two-hour wait, he stepped out of his office for a break and confirmed he had talked through it with Mr Palmer.

So, what say you now, Clive?

EARLIER, China’s second national English language newspaper, the Global Times, has lambasted Clive Palmer, and Australia, for his “damning” Chinese mongrel comments on Monday night’s Q & A program.

“Palmer’s rampant rascality serves as a symbol that Australian society has an unfriendly attitude toward China.”

In an opinion piece published in the paper and online, an anonymous writer says China must “let those prancing provocateurs know how much of a price they pay when they deliberately rile us.

“China cannot let him off, or show petty kindness just because the Australian government has condemned him,” it reads.

MORE: THE STORY BEHIND PALMER’S BIFF WITH CHINA

MORE: CHINA HITS BACK AT CLIVE PALMER OVER RANT

It proceeds to call for considerations to impose sanctions on Palmer and any Australian companies who have business dealings with the politician.

While Treasurer Joe Hockey this morning played down the situation, telling media “the relationship with China is deep enough to withstand the odd angry shot”, the paper had a different idea about Australian politics.

“Hooligan politics is being employed by the Australian government to deal with China.

“China must teach Canberra a lesson for sabotaging a bilateral relationship. This situation is making it a radical “double-dealer” among all the nations which have relationships with China.

“Canberra boasts about itself having so-called strategic values, most of which, however, are created out of its own delusions.”

Most recently, the Communist-owned paper called Foreign Minister Julie Bishop a “complete fool”.

The Global Times’ editorial, blasting Clive Palmer, Australia and Canberra.
The Global Times’ editorial, blasting Clive Palmer, Australia and Canberra.

Mr Palmer is refusing to back down over his comments in which he labelled the Chinese “mongrels” and “bastards” as the government becomes increasingly frustrated by Palmer’s loose lips.

In the latest of a string of statements, Mr Palmer told the Financial Review, that “if I went [to China] they’d shoot me.”

The government is concerned Mr Palmer’s “hurling insults” will hurt Australia’s relationship with China.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott attempted to patch things up on ABC Radio, saying China kept Australia running through “the worst of the GFC”.

“It’s one of the reasons why what Clive Palmer said the other night was so destructive and really it’s very hard to understand why someone would be so simplistic,” he said.

But when asked on 3AW if he stood by his tirade on Q & A against Australia’s largest trading partner, Mr Palmer said he believed his comments were “an accurate reflection” of the standard of government in China.

“I think so, they do that to people and shoot them and kill them, which they do, and they don't have elections.

“I don’t think that’s the sort of values that we have in Australia.”

Mr Palmer has accused the “communist Chinese government” of trying to take over Australia’s ports to steal the nation’s natural resources, but has clarified the comments were not in reference to “Chinese people”.

“They have one day trials, they don't have any democracy. I feel for the Chinese people that live under such tyranny.”

“They’re a government owned body that executes people in China, doesn’t give them the right of free speech ... and subverts their judiciary,” he said.

Meanwhile, controversial Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie has launched another bizarre attack on the Chinese government, warning that Australia needed to invest in defence spending, urging the government to double its spending on artillery in preparation for a Chinese invasion.

“We should be looking into using missiles if another nation attacks us,” she told 2GB host Ben Fordham.

“We need to stop our grandchildren from becoming slaves to an anti-democratic power.

“We should be worried about any invasion, not just from communist China, and right now I am concerned about our national security.

“Anybody who is close to us and has the ability to reach our shores we need to make sure we can fight for our own country and have the defences to do that.”

The Federal Government is in damage control, forced to reassure Beijing that the relationship between the two countries is important, and China is still respected in Australia.

The Chinese embassy in Canberra echoed the sentiments of the Australian government overnight, labelling Mr Palmer’s comments as “absurd and irresponsible”.

“The words of Mr Clive Palmer MP are absurd and irresponsible, which are full of ignorance and prejudice,” a spokesperson for the embassy told AAP.

The Palmer United Party’s Chinese-born Western Australia senator, Dio Wang, blamed “persistent and provocative questioning” by Q & A host Tony Jones for Mr Palmer’s comments.

“Having more than once given an appropriate answer to the questions put to him, Mr Palmer naturally reacted and used expressions that were subsequently taken out context,” he said in a statement.

Mr Palmer’s current view on China is in stark contrast to his previous comments.

In 2001 he accused the federal government of “racially” discriminating against Chinese investment, reports The Australian.

In 2009, he said the Chinese people needed to be treated with the “dignity they deserve”.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/clive-palmer-wont-apologise-for-chinese-mongrel-comments/news-story/1c39d3c02dc7a82d3e0938b4fa6336e9