The “Always” rockers were due to play their first-ever shows in Shanghai and Beijing next week, but the gigs have now been “unexpectedly canceled”, promoters AEG Asia have announced. It provided no other explanation and government authorities either declined to comment or could not be reached for comment.
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The Financial Times reported that the shows had been called off because the Chinese culture ministry had discovered the band once included a picture of the Dalai Lama in a video backdrop during a concert in Taiwan in 2010.
But Indonesia remains the only nation in the region not to have ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which would oblige the government to adopt stricter measures to restrict advertising, packaging and sales of tobacco products and public education on the hazards of smoking.
A spokesman for the culture ministry had said authorities would scrutinize the contents of performances by cultural groups from overseas.
“We’re sorry for the cancellation and will refund ticket holders”, an employee of online ticket platform Damai.cn told the Global Times. “The world’s most populous country and second largest economy is scared of a few songs?” wrote another.
Get ready to rock out this Tuesday after the shock announcement that Bon Jovi will be playing at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.
The draining of the BPJS funds and the virtual free reign of the tobacco industry amid feeble regulatory measures leads to the ultimate health threat to smokers, non-smokers and would-be smokers among minors who are premium targets of the industry’s advertising – the youth who could benefit for life from inspiring messages from the likes of Bon Jovi. Worldwide Campaign for Tibet (ICT) said Thursday that it has documented the increasing dangers for young Tibetan singers in a political climate in which nearly any expression of Tibetan identity or culture can be termed ‘criminal’.
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Chinese officials have been especially sensitive about live concerts since Bjork chanted “Tibet” during her song Declare Independence in 2008.
