Western acts 'welcome' in China

Bjork's outburst surprised Chinese officials

Western pop stars will not be affected by singer Bjork's outburst at a recent Shanghai concert, China says.

China's Culture Ministry last week said it would tighten controls over foreign artists after Bjork shouted "Tibet, Tibet" at the concert.

Talk of Tibetan independence is considered taboo in China, which has ruled the territory since 1951.

But a senior Chinese official said on Thursday it would not affect visits by other artists ahead of the Olympics.

'Individual case'

Bjork's cry followed a powerful performance of her song Declare Independence at the concert last week.

After the incident, China's culture ministry said the outburst "broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people's feelings" and pledged to "further tighten controls".

But vice minister of culture Zhou Heping told reporters on Thursday: "It was just an individual case.

"I don't think it will affect our invitation of artists from all over the world to come to China and perform, particularly during the Olympic Games."

He said the performance of Declare Independence had not been approved by Chinese officials and "caused dissatisfaction among the broader Chinese audience".

Tibetan monks have recently protested against Chinese rule

Bjork, who performed at the opening of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, has sung the song before in support of independence movements such as that in Kosovo, which split from Serbia last month.

Chinese officials inspect set lists before artists play concerts, and forbids performers from playing material which "harms national unity".

Taiwanese pop star Chang Hui-Mei was banned from playing the mainland for a year after she sang Taiwan's national anthem during an inauguration ceremony for the island's president in 2000.

China considers Taiwan, which has governed its own affairs for half a century, part of its territory.

Bjork's outburst came amid protests by Tibetan monks in Chinese provinces after marches around the world in support of Tibetan independence.