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Justin Bieber joins the illustrious list of musicians banned from China. |
Justin Bieber is not welcome to perform in China because of his
"bad behaviour", Beijing authorities have said, after the pop idol
angered many Chinese in 2014 by visiting a controversial Japanese war shrine
The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture revealed it was not a
"Belieber" when it said the 23-year-old Canadian, who last played in
the country in 2013, had a lot of growing up to do if he wanted to return.
The statement came after Chinese fans posted comments on the agency's
website demanding to know when their heart-throb would be allowed to perform in
China again.
It is "inappropriate to introduce bad behaviour into the performing
arts" it said, calling the performer out for his antics and urging him to
turn over a new leaf.
"We hope Justin Bieber can improve his words and deeds in the
process of growing up and become a singer people really like."
The singer recently helped hit single "Despacito", originally
released by Luis Fonsi in January before Bieber came out with a remix two
months later, achieve 4.6 billion streams, according to the Universal Music
Group.
The Beijing cultural bureau did not specifically mention Bieber's 2014
visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which honours millions of mostly Japanese war
dead, including convicted World War II war criminals.
The shrine is seen across Asia as a symbol of Japan's perceived lack of
penitence for its past imperialist aggression, under which China in particular
suffered heavily.
Shortly after his trip, the singer behind the hit song "Sorry"
issued an apology to scandalised Chinese fans, saying he was "mislead to think
the shrines were only a place of prayer".
But some have never forgiven him.
"Anyone who knows and then visits the Yasukuni Shrine is
annoying," a user called Qiao Ating wrote on China's Twitter-like Weibo
website on Friday.
Another Weibo post agreed: "It’s good he's not coming. He is a bad
boy."
Fan Jiayi, a jewellery designer in Shanghai, said she supported the
authorities' stance, saying: "I do not think the government would reject
him unless there was a big problem."
Bieber is due to perform in Hong Kong in September as part of his
"Purpose Tour".
Big-name Western acts have in the past been banned from performing in
mainland China over political gestures.
Maroon 5 cancelled a concert in 2015 after authorities refused
permission because a band member had met the Dalai Lama, whom Beijing views as
a separatist threat.
Later the same year American rock group Bon Jovi who have included
imagery of the Dalai Lama in a show abruptly scrapped two dates in Beijing and
Shanghai.
Chinese officials have been especially sensitive about live concerts
since Icelandic singer Bjork chanted "Tibet! Tibet!" during a
performance of her song "Declare Independence" in Shanghai in 2008.
China says its troops "liberated" Tibet in 1951, but many Tibetans accuse Beijing of religious repression and eroding their culture.
China says its troops "liberated" Tibet in 1951, but many Tibetans accuse Beijing of religious repression and eroding their culture.
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