China cancels visit by children who sang Taiwan anthem: Report

Beijing, Jun 16: A Taiwanese report says Chinese organisers have canceled an invitation to a children's choir who performed Taiwan's national anthem at last month's inauguration of the island's new president.

The official Central News Agency said the Puzangalan Choir made up of children from Taiwan's native Paiwan aboriginal tribe were due to perform at a festival in southern China's Guangdong province on July 20.

It quoted the choir's musical director Wu Sheng-ying as saying the Chinese organizers informed the choir one week after they appeared at the May 20 inauguration of Tsai Ying, the self-governing island's first female president.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and regularly retaliates against artists whom it sees as backing the island's independent identity, along with other overseas artists with whom it is displeased.

AP