Billionaire Clive Palmer has hit back at Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's warning to the Chinese earlier this week that their state-owned enterprises are not welcome to take over Australian businesses.
Mr Palmer, a noted sinophile whose fortunes have been significantly boosted by Pilbara iron ore deals he's done with mainland China, says the Chinese would be entitled to take offence at Mr Abbott's remarks, which were made in Beijing to a business audience.
"We all know the [Chinese] enterprises are owned by the state, but really they function independently," he told The Age.
"They are listed on the stock exchanges in New York and London and other places, so why shouldn't they be treated equally?"
