China criticizes 'kill everyone' remark on U.S. talk show

BEIJING (Reuters) - China sharply criticized an American talk-show host on Monday for a remark made by a child on his program 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 program 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 apologized on October 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)