Coronavirus: Where was China while ‘One World’ was raising US$200 million to fight Covid-19?

More than 70 singers and celebrities took part in the global charity event but there was a distinct shortage of Chinese stars

‘If the world has no access to your music, how can the world make sense of your values?’ social media user says

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Lady Gaga was one of the headliners and organisers of the One World event. Photo: Handout

Published: 5:37pm, 19 Apr 2020Updated: 11:43pm, 19 Apr 2020

Chinese performers were notable by their absence from the “One World: Together at Home” cross-platform event broadcast on Sunday to raise money to help fight Covid-19.

Organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the charity Global Citizen in collaboration with Lady Gaga, the eight-hour show featured more than 70 singers and celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, the Rolling Stones, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Elton John, Ellen DeGeneres, Taylor Swift and Korean pop group SuperM.

Even former US first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush turned up.

There were no performers from mainland China, but Hongkongers Eason Chan and Jackie Cheung did take part, while renowned pianist Lang Lang, who was born in mainland China but now lives in Hong Kong, accompanied Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.

It is possible China’s lack of involvement was related to its uneasy relationship with some of the celebrities taking part.

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