Versace apologises after 'anti-China' T-shirt sparks uproar

This T-shirt has angered many social media users in China. Photo / Weibo

Versace has been forced to apologise after a T-shirt "disrespecting China's national sovereignty" infuriated one of the luxury brand's leading ambassadors.

Yang Mi, a Chinese actress and singer, announced she was quitting Versace, claiming that one of the brand's T-shirts broke Beijing's "One China" policy.

The T-shirt listed several cities alongside their respective countries. Hong Kong and Macau were also listed but as independent nations and not Chinese territories, news.com.au reports.

Both are classed as special administrative regions of China, which have semi-autonomous governments.

Yang posted a picture of the T-shirt to Chinese social media app Weibo, with an accompanying statement.

Photo / Weibo

"China's territorial integrity and sovereignty are sacred and inviolable at all times," the statement said, according to The China Daily.

"As a company of the People's Republic of China and Yang Mi as a citizen of the People's Republic of China, we are deeply offended.

"It is the duty of all Chinese citizens to uphold the 'One China' principle and adamantly safeguard national unification."

Designer Donatella Versace has since apologised for the "unfortunate" error.

"I am deeply sorry for the unfortunate recent error that was made by our company and that is currently being discussed on various social media channels," she wrote on Instagram.

"Never have I wanted to disrespect China's national sovereignty, and this is why I wanted to personally apologise for such inaccuracy and for any distress that it might have caused."

Versace issued a separate apology on Twitter, announcing the T-shirt would no longer be for sale.

The controversy comes at an especially sensitive time for the region in the wake of widespread anti-Beijing protests in Hong Kong.

This is the 10th week in a row of sometimes-violent protests in the territory over fears of growing political influence of Chinese authorities in Hong Kong.

The Company apologizes for the design of its product and a recall of the t-shirt has been implemented in July. The brand accepts accountability and is exploring actions to improve how we operate day-to-day to become more conscientious and aware. pic.twitter.com/5K8u3c4Dbm

— VERSACE (@Versace) August 11, 2019

Just this past weekend, the Chinese Government forced Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways to stop staffers who support the territory's protests — which are calling for increased democracy and independence from China — from working on flights to the mainland.