Australians outraged at Clive Palmer's remarks regarding China  

澳各界批駁帕爾默辱華言論 維護澳中關系發展

Australian citizens have sent emails to the Chinese Embassy to Australia Tuesday, denouncing the mining tycoon Clive Palmer's insulting remarks regarding China, according to the Embassy.

In one of the letters, one Australian said, "As an Australian citizen, I would just like to let you know that I am outraged at the remarks by Clive Palmer regarding the Chinese People. Please be assured that the majority of Australians do not hold these opinions."

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Fairfax Radio Tuesday that Palmer's comments are offensive, unnecessary and unacceptable as a Member of Parliament (MP).

"I think he's using his position to demean the Chinese people because he's in a legal dispute with a Chinese company," she said.

Meanwhile, Bishop planned to contact the Chinese Embassy and make sure that such views are not representative of the Australian Parliament and the Australian people.

Treasurer Joe Hockey, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, Trade Minister Andrew Robb and West Australian Premier Colin Barnett all stood up in the first time against Palmer's remarks.

Monday night, Palmer abused Chinese communists and government and even called Chinese "mongrels" and "bastards" during a TV show on ABC.

In the face of pressure, Palmer clarified his position on the Internet Tuesday morning. "My Q&A comments not intended to refer to Chinese people but to Chinese company which is taking Australian resources & not paying," he wrote in the Twitter.

The MP is now in a legal dispute with the Chinese-owned Citic Pacific over financial issues.