Foreign Ministry: Australian tycoon's attack is 'absurd'

The Foreign Ministry has condemned a verbal attack by Australian mining mogul and politician Clive Palmer as "irrational and absurd", after the businessman described China's government as "bastards" who shoot their own people.

"Palmer's words about China in recent days are totally irrational and absurd. We strongly condemn them," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement posted on the ministry's website on Wednesday,

Qin also noted that Australian political leaders, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, had criticized Palmer's words, saying the tycoon's stance did not have the wider backing of the Australian public.