Chinese film director Zhang Yimou published a statement on Sunday evening to claim that he and his wife, Chen Ting, have two sons and a daughter, in a response to accusations of his breach of the family planning policy.

The statement says that Zhang and Chen are willing to accept the investigation of the family planning bureau of Binhu district of Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu Province, where Chen's hukou, or household registration, belongs to. It says that the couple will cooperate with the government and accept the punishment due to the country's regulations, and that they apologize for their behavior, the news portal qq.com reported.

The statement also criticizes "some people" for using illegal methods to chase down Zhang's children and expose information about his family, and says they even faked claims about Zhang.

As a public figure, Zhang admitted the media had the right to supervise him but claimed that the untrue accusations have had an adverse impact on his family, as well as a negative social impact.

The statement says they are collecting evidence about the rumormongers, and reserve the right to take legal action.

An agent for the couple arrived in Wuxi to answer accusations that the couple has violated China's one-child policy, the local family planning bureau said on Friday.

Reports in Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly said Zhang has a total of seven children, one from an ex-wife, three from Chen and another three from two mistresses.

The family planning bureau of Binhu district said it was investigating the case and will reveal the investigation results to the public.

Media reports have assumed that if Zhang did have seven children, according to Chinese laws, he could face a fine of up to 160 million yuan ($26 million).

Net users have been wondering why there was such a long gap between the first reports of Zhang's many offspring and the statement, and whether celebrities receive special treatment. 

Liu Peiqi, a famous actor, backed Zhang, saying that the elite should have the right to have more than one kid, which can improve the "quality" of the people, the Yangcheng Evening News reported.

Angered over Liu's eugenicist comments, many online knocked him for discriminating against the poor.

Global Times - Xinhua