Taiwan considers letting Chinese stars perform

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Chen Su-nann, section chief at the Government Information Office's Department of Broadcasting Affairs, told The Associated Press that the government is considering removing current restrictions that limit the exposure of Chinese actors and singers to the island's TV and radio shows. They are not allowed to stage concerts or act in live drama productions.

Taiwanese stars don't face similar restrictions in China, Chen said.

"We want to steer cultural exchange toward a situation of equality and mutual benefit," Chen said.

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, but the mainland government still claims the democratic, self-ruled island as its territory and has threatened to attack the island if it formalizes its de facto independence.

Ties were strained during the recently ended eight-year term of former President Chen Shui-bian, who favored independence and stressed a separate Taiwanese identity.

Chen's successor, Ma Ying-jeou, however, wants stronger relations with China. The two sides have already agreed to set up quasi-official representative offices in each territory and plan to expand tourism and charter flights.

Taiwan's possible dropping of the ban on concerts and performances by Chinese performers will likely be welcomed by the booming mainland industry.

China and Taiwan share the same Mandarin language, but Chinese-language pop culture has long been dominated by Taiwan and former British colony Hong Kong, whose stars carry wide appeal in the mainland and are frequently featured in TV ads.

Few mainland Chinese stars, however, have achieved the same level of success in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

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