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China to crack down on pop stars | China to crack down on pop stars |
(20 minutes later) | |
China is to impose stricter rules on foreign rock and pop stars after singer Bjork caused controversy by shouting "Tibet, Tibet" at a Shanghai concert. | China is to impose stricter rules on foreign rock and pop stars after singer Bjork caused controversy by shouting "Tibet, Tibet" at a Shanghai concert. |
Her cry followed a powerful performance of her song Declare Independence. | Her cry followed a powerful performance of her song Declare Independence. |
Talk of Tibetan independence is considered taboo in China, which has ruled the territory since 1951. | Talk of Tibetan independence is considered taboo in China, which has ruled the territory since 1951. |
China's culture ministry said the outburst "broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people's feelings" and pledged to "further tighten controls". | China's culture ministry said the outburst "broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people's feelings" and pledged to "further tighten controls". |
"We will further tighten controls on foreign artists performing in China in order to prevent similar cases from happening in the future," the ministry said in a statement on its website. | |
"We shall never tolerate any attempt to separate Tibet from China and will no longer welcome any artists who deliberately do this." | "We shall never tolerate any attempt to separate Tibet from China and will no longer welcome any artists who deliberately do this." |
I am not a politician, I am first and last a musician Bjork The statement said there was "no country that admits that Tibet is an independent country". | |
Bjork said she "would like to put importance on that I am not a politician, I am first and last a musician and as such I feel my duty to try to express the whole range of human emotions". | Bjork said she "would like to put importance on that I am not a politician, I am first and last a musician and as such I feel my duty to try to express the whole range of human emotions". |
On her website, she said: "This song was written more with the personal in mind. | On her website, she said: "This song was written more with the personal in mind. |
"But the fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure." | "But the fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure." |
A spokeswoman from the culture ministry told the AFP news agency Bjork could be banned from performing in China if there was a repeat performance. | A spokeswoman from the culture ministry told the AFP news agency Bjork could be banned from performing in China if there was a repeat performance. |
"If Bjork continued to behave like that in the future, we may consider never allowing her to perform in China," she said. | "If Bjork continued to behave like that in the future, we may consider never allowing her to perform in China," she said. |
Global struggles | Global struggles |
Human rights activists and many politicians abroad have criticised Chinese policy in Tibet. | Human rights activists and many politicians abroad have criticised Chinese policy in Tibet. |
Many Tibetans feel loyal to the exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, whom China considers a separatist threat. | Many Tibetans feel loyal to the exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, whom China considers a separatist threat. |
The song Declare Independence has previously been used by Bjork to highlight other struggles for self-rule. | The song Declare Independence has previously been used by Bjork to highlight other struggles for self-rule. |
She dedicated a performance of it in Japan last month to Kosovo. She has also used the song to campaign for Greenland and the Faroe Islands - territories controlled by Denmark. | She dedicated a performance of it in Japan last month to Kosovo. She has also used the song to campaign for Greenland and the Faroe Islands - territories controlled by Denmark. |
Her behaviour at Sunday's Shanghai concert has not been reported in the state-controlled Chinese media. | Her behaviour at Sunday's Shanghai concert has not been reported in the state-controlled Chinese media. |
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