China denies visa to Japanese musicians in Taiwan orchestra
13 Oct 2012 7:28 AM IST
China has denied visas to three Japanese members of a Taiwanese symphony orchestra ahead of a planned mainland tour, an official said on Friday, linking the move to a simmering territorial row.
The National Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan’s leading classical ensemble, plans to go ahead with its visit to China despite the visa denials, which come amid tension between Beijing and Tokyo over an island cluster in the East China Sea.
‘The Japanese musicians didn’t get the visas probably because of the timing around the Diaoyu island controversy,’ said a staff member of the orchestra, using the Chinese name for the islands known as Senkaku in Japanese.
‘We are still trying as there are three more weeks before the tour,’ she said, adding the orchestra, which has over 90 members, would be able to perform even without the participation of the three Japanese.
The National Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan’s leading classical ensemble, plans to go ahead with its visit to China despite the visa denials, which come amid tension between Beijing and Tokyo over an island cluster in the East China Sea.
‘The Japanese musicians didn’t get the visas probably because of the timing around the Diaoyu island controversy,’ said a staff member of the orchestra, using the Chinese name for the islands known as Senkaku in Japanese.
‘We are still trying as there are three more weeks before the tour,’ she said, adding the orchestra, which has over 90 members, would be able to perform even without the participation of the three Japanese.
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