Jackie Chan found himself at the center of a controversy, accusing him of anti-Americanism, following a heated interview on Chinese television, during which the action star called America “the most corrupt country in the world.”

Chan made himself a world-wide star when he moved from his native Hong Kong to Hollywood to further his film career, taking on roles in such hit action/comedy films as the Rush Hour trilogy and Rumble in the Bronx. In numerous past interviews Jackie has often stated his appreciation of the American movie industry and the country's population for giving him his chance in the movies, but what most people outside of his native China might not know is that the movie star is one of the ruling Communist Party's biggest supporters and as such he readily defends his country's government.

In light of the recent news that the government censored one of the country's top newspapers, numerous press outlets have condemned the country's officials once again for its notorious censorship regime. In an interview with one of the country's top television shows, Chan - speaking in Chinese - accused America of being the most corrupt country in the world and strongly defended his country's domestic policies, regardless of the flack the ruling Communist Party so often picks up. Chan has also criticised Hong Kong and Taiwan for their democratic policy, accusing the populations of having too much freedom - and as such the comments made by Chan came as no surprise in China, but have shocked some outside of the Asian republic.

Here's a quick transcription from the more disparaging parts of the interview:

Jackie Chan: The New China. The real success has been made in the past dozen of years. Our country’s president also admits they have the corruption problem, and some other stuff, but we are making progress. What I can see is our country is continuously making progress and learning. If you talk about corruption, the entire world, the United State, has no corruption?

Host: America.

Chan: The most corrupt in the world.

Host: Really?

Chan: Of course. Where does this Great Breakdown [financial crisis] come from? It started exactly from the world, the United States. When I was interviewed in the U.S., people asked me, I said the same thing. I said now that China has become strong, everyone is making an issue of China. If our own countrymen don’t support our country, who will support our country? We know our country has many problems. We [can] talk about it when the door is closed. To outsiders, [we should say] “our country is the best.”

Host: So he can’t get enough of his more than 20 ambassador titles. I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should ask him to be the ambassador to the United States.

Chan: Seriously, I am always like, when the door is closed, “Our country is like this and this. Who and who is not good.” But outside, “Our country is the best, like so and so, is the best.” You cannot say our country has problems [when you are outside], like “Yes, our country is bad.”