Bloomberg reported that Australian lawmaker Mr Clive Palmer issued a written apology to China’s ambassador for insulting the nation after calling his Chinese business partners mongrels who want to take over the country’s resources.

The mining magnate-turned politician, who Prime Minister Tony Abbott must negotiate with to pass legislation, told Chinese Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu he regretted “any hurt or anguish” his comments may have caused. The letter was dated Aug. 25 and emailed today by Palmer’s office to media outlets.

Palmer’s comments on Australian Broadcasting Corp.’s Q&A television program on Aug. 18 were attacked by Abbott’s government, Australian business leaders and Chinese newspapers. The millionaire is embroiled in a long running legal dispute with Citic Pacific Limited which has alleged he used funds from a joint account to help finance his political campaign.

Mr Palmer said on the program that the Chinese are communists, they shoot their own people, they haven’t got a justice system and they want to take over this country. China is Australia’s largest trading partner, while Citic is Mr Palmer’s partner in the world’s biggest magnetite iron ore mine in Western Australia.

(Source - www.steelguru.com)