The Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest with CNN's bureau in Beijing, saying a CNN statement did not adequately apologize for Jack Cafferty's references to the Chinese as "goons and thugs" and China-manufactured products as "junk," reported Xinhua, China's official news agency.

Cafferty said in a statement his remarks referred to "the Chinese government and not to Chinese people or Chinese-Americans," CNN reported

CNN said it was neither Cafferty's nor the broadcaster's intent to "cause offense to the Chinese people and would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way."

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Cafferty's remarks "reflected his arrogance, ignorance and hostility toward the Chinese people ... and will be condemned by those who safeguard justice around the world," Xinhua reported.

In the days following his April 9 remarks, the Legal Immigrant Association launched an online petition condemning his statements as "racist" and "despicable," demanding CNN discipline Cafferty and

apologize to the Chinese people, CNN said. Nearly 45,000 people signed the e-petition as of Tuesday.