Story highlights Fans have accused the "Star Wars" poster used in China of minimizing black characters

State media has defended the poster, saying the changes have "nothing to do with racism"

(CNN) Chinese state media has hit back against claims that the poster for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" used in mainland China deliberately leaves out or downplays characters of color.

Fans complained on Twitter earlier this week that British actor John Boyega, who plays Finn in the movie, had been shrunk on the Chinese poster. Other characters played by non-white characters, including Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron and Lupita Nyong'o's Maz Kanata were missing entirely, as was Chewbacca the Wookiee.

Star Wars' Finn (who happens to be black) and Chewbacca (happens to be Wookiee) get shafted in China. HT @asmuniz pic.twitter.com/ATpvcd51L6 — Ray Kwong (@raykwong) December 1, 2015

"Finn (who happens to be black) and Chewbacca (happens to be Wookiee) get shafted in China," tweeted Ray Kwong, a Hong Kong-based columnist and political commentator.

Another tweeter called the poster "profoundly wrong."