China has warned overseas entertainers that they would be banned from the mainland if they “offend” the country’s sovereignty or stir up ethnic hatred during their performances.Performances that “undermine national unity, endanger state security, stir up ethnic hatred, violate religious policy and ethnic customs, publicise pornography and superstition will be barred,” China’s Ministry of Culture said.Under the new rule, performers such as Icelandic singer Bjork who raised a storm of controversy in March by chanting “Tibet! Tibet!” after her song “Declare Independence” at the end of her concert in Shanghai, would become a persona non grata.Tibet, a sensitive issue for China, has come under intense global spotlight after anti-government protests broke out in March in the remote Himalayan region, leading Beijing to order a crackdown. Tibet is also a favourite issue with some Western artists.The Ministry circular gave no names on the “black list”, but it said all the information on entertainers and programmes should be submitted in advance for approval, encores included.Performers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are also covered by the new rule, official Xinhua news agency said.Hollywood star Sharon Stone had also incurred the anger of Chinese after she made a controversial remark that the devastating May 12 earthquake in southwest China that has killed nearly 70,000 people was the result of “bad karma” over the way Chinese were treating Tibetans.Films featuring Stone have been banned from cinemas in Hong Kong and the mainland and products of films featuring her have also disappeared from major film and music stores.
