BEIJING, Nov 11 (Reuters) - China sharply criticised an American talk-show host on Monday for a remark made by a child on his programme which has set off protests by Chinese-Americans in the United States.
The controversy blew up when a six-year-old replied "kill everyone in China" after the host, Jimmy Kimmel, asked him how the United States should pay back the $1.3 trillion it owes to the world's second-largest economy.
Kimmel, who hosts a programme called "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on broadcaster ABC, replied: "that's an interesting idea".
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said ABC must respond to the Chinese-American community's protests.
"It's necessary to point out that spreading racism and hatred runs counter to the media's social responsibility," he told a regular news briefing.
American broadcaster ABC has issued a statement expressing regret for the incident and Kimmel apologised on Oct. 28 on his television show.
Kimmel's show is pre-taped. Critics say ABC should have cut the offending segment before it was aired. (Reporting By Megha Rajagopalan; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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