China has again urged the American news network CNN to take back one of its commentator's insulting remarks about the Chinese, and to sincerely apologize.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the remarks at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

"Their statement did not make a sincere apology for his remarks but turned its attack on the Chinese government to try to sow division between the Chinese government and the people. So for this point, we cannot accept it at all. The words of Cafferty not only dishonour the Chinese people but they also challenge the conscience and fairness of all human beings. Chinese people can't be cheated or insulted."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry lodged a solemn representation Wednesday with the CNN Beijing office, condemning the network as being "without any professional reputation".

CNN commentator Jack Cafferty said in a TV show on April 9 that Chinese products were "junk" and the Chinese people were "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years".

Cafferty's remarks drew indignation from Chinese around the world. Chinese Foreign Ministry demanded an apology from CNN as well as Cafferty himself.

CNN issued a statement on Tuesday saying "it was not Mr. Cafferty's nor CNN's intent to cause offence to the Chinese people, and CNN would apologise to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way".

The network stated that Cafferty was offering his "strongly held" opinion of the Chinese government, not China's people.

China's foreign ministry then issued a statement saying CNN failed to apologize for Cafferty's remarks, which maliciously attacked the Chinese people and seriously violated the professional ethics of journalism.