LEAD: Taiwan urges China not to penalize pop star

Asian Political News, May 29, 2000

TAIPEI, May 24 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH TAIWAN REACTION)

Taiwan urged China on Wednesday not to politicize performances by "innocent" artists, in a response to reports that China is imposing sanctions against Taiwan pop singer A-mei for singing at the inauguration of President Chen Shui-bian.

Taiwan's top government spokeswoman, Chung Chin, said the Government Information Office will investigate the matter. She said it would be "very regrettable" should China have actually decided to boycott A-mei, whose full name is Chang Hui-mei.

She expressed hopes that the Chinese authorities will reconsider their decision and that the reported boycott would not affect other mutual cultural exchanges.

Chung ruled out similar action by Taiwan against Chinese artists, saying Taiwan respects artistic freedom.

Taiwan media reported Wednesday that television commercials and billboards featuring A-mei, Taiwan's No. 1 pop star, have been pulled by Chinese authorities.

Chinese television stations have been ordered by higher-ups to no longer broadcast commercials involving the pop singer, who is also immensely popular in China, the United Daily News reported.

The ban covers commercials and billboards for A-mei compact disks and concert videos as well as for a soft drink promoted by the 26-year-old, the report said.

A-mei angered Chinese authorities by singing Taiwan's anthem during an official open-air celebration of Chen's inauguration Saturday as Taiwan's second democratically elected president.

A-mei, who is from Taiwan's aboriginal Puyuma ethnic group, might also face a three-year ban on giving concerts in China, the Chinese-language paper said.

The woman singer's first-ever concert tour to China last year attracted tens of thousands of fans.

A spokeswoman for the singer's record company Forward Music told Kyodo News that the company had only seen news reports, but not received any official notice of the action.

The newspaper also reported that another Taiwan singer, Wu Pai, who performed during a glitzy evening show on inauguration day, was stripped of a recently won award as best male singer from Taiwan.

The award, which is handed out by a Chinese TV network but had not yet been delivered to Wu, was given to another performer instead, the report said.

China, which did not want to see Chen elected, last month stepped up pressure on businesses in China linked to prominent Taiwan business figures who supported Chen's election campaign. Chen was once an outspoken advocate of Taiwan independence.

It also warned Taiwanese investors in China against voicing support for Taiwan independence back home.