The White House has officially responded to a petition about the Jimmy Kimmel Show since more than 105,000 people signed it, calling for an apology after the popular TV talk show sparked anger nationwide with a joke about killing all the people in China.

The comments aired in the show "do not reflect mainstream views of China in the United States", the White House said in the response to the petition.

"As the president has stated publicly, the United States welcomes the continuing peaceful rise of China," it said.

In Oct of 2013, ABC aired a segment on its late night variety show where host Kimmel asked a group of American children what the country should do about its $1.3 trillion US debt to China, the world's second-largest economy.

People were shocked by an answer from a 6-year-old American boy —"Kill everyone in China" — and then their feeling turned to anger as Kimmel quickly replied: "That's an interesting idea."

The comments triggered protests involving hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals and Chinese Americans across the US. Crowds rallied in at least 27 US cities in protest, chanting "Shame on you ABC," "Teach kids to love, not to kill", "No fake apology" and "Kimmel must go".

On Oct 19, a petition on a White House website was drafted by someone with the initials HZ in Texas, asking the administration to "immediately cut the show and issue a formal apology".

"The kids might not know anything better," the petition read. "However, Jimmy Kimmel and ABC's management are adults. They had a choice not to air this racist program, which promotes racial hatred."

The White House noted in its official response to the petition that the federal government cannot force ABC to "cut the show" because the US Constitution protects free speech.

"It may be upsetting when people say things we might personally disagree with, but the principle of protected free speech is an important part of who we are as a nation," said the White House response.

Taylor Chow, the president of the Asian Americans for Political Advancement (AAPA), told China Daily on Saturday that the White House response to the petition "really puzzles" him.

"It actually acknowledged the view in the show has many supporters nationwide," he said.

He pointed out that White House used the First Amendment as an excuse for not being able to stop the show, but it doesn't restrict the White House from condemning such view.

"The White House didn't literally condemn such a view — which is anti-human, anti-US Constitution — in its response. We all know, as a US President, the first thing before taking the office is to swear to defend US Constitution. The White House didn't address it," he said.

"I am very disappointment that both the White House and the FCC don't want to face the simple fact, but just respond to the petition with political niceties," said Stan Tsai, vice-president of public issues with the Organization of Chinese Americans, DC Chapter (OCA-DC).

This kind of comment is "Freedom of Threat" rather than "Freedom of Speech", he said.

George Koo, a Chinese community leader in San Francisco, said sending the petition to the White House is "barking up the wrong tree".

"I would not expect the White House to react any differently than it did to the petition. I support direct protest addressed to ABC," he said.

"Agree or not, with over 100,000 signatures submitted, the White House automatically needs to make a response," said Lester Lee, a Chinese community leader who lives in Saratoga, California.

He said it is very rewarding to see the ability of the Chinese-American community to mobilize and achieve the goal of this signature drive in such a short period of time and called it a sign of "our growing strength in national political power".

Wilma Pang, a Chinese American who lives in San Francisco Chinatown, said it might help to have the kid come out and sincerely apologize for what he "unintentionally" said and the parents should also be in the picture as well. "So far, only adults have come out to apologize. That won't help to ease the tension," she said.

During the past months, Kimmel has had to make personal apologies twice under pressure from Chinese-American groups protesting outside the California headquarters of ABC, which is owned by the Walt Disney Co.

His initial apology was criticized as being insincere and triggered even more furor among Chinese communities nationwide.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang earlier told reporters that ABC should acknowledge the misconduct, and respond to the Chinese community's requirement in a "sincere way".

He also said ABC should prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, as spreading racism and hatred goes against the media's social responsibility.

Chen Weihua in Washington DC contributed to this story

chenjia@chinadailyusa.com