Radiohead turn blind eye to principles for presence in China?

British band Radiohead has reportedly turned a blind eye to their principles by launching a web presence in China. The band has been campaigning against the human rights record of the country for a number of years as well as performing at free Tibet concerts in the past but over the last couple of weeks the band has created a micro blog in China.

Radiohead have launched their first web presence in China despite their open opposition to China's human rights record. Radiohead has launched its own 'micro-blog' in China, designed as China's equivalent to Twitter.

British rockers Radiohead used the opening concert of their 2008 world tour to protest against China's human rights record in Tibet - by decorating the stage with Tibetan flags. The 'Creep' hit makers played the first date of their tour at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in Florida and used the opportunity to express their support for the people of Tibet

According to NME.com, the band has recently launched a page on the 'weibo' site of Chinese internet portal site Sina.com. Radiohead have so far only launched one message on the account but it has been confirmed to be genuine, with the account now having over 400,000 followers.

The decision will come as a real surprise to Radiohead's fans but China is showing a new willingness to open up to western music. However, there will be serious questions asked of Thom Yorke's band as they have played at Tibet benefit concerts in the past. The band has also campaigned hard for the release of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been held by the Chinese government since 2008. Radiohead have raised awareness to the cause on their official website and critics can't understand why the band has now decided to move to a Chinese portal where they will not have the freedoms to air their views.

There is no chance that the band will be allowed to put air their political beliefs on their micro blog. Although bands have been able to break into the Chinese market over the past years, Bob Dylan had his set list check in a recent concert and Oasis were banned from taking to the stage in China due to the bands links with the free Tibet concerts. The site blocks all politically sensitive material including calls for greater autonomy on Tibet and commentary on the 1987 Tiananmen Square crackdown. U.S social media sites including, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are all blocked in China.

Radiohead's appeal in China is clear from the big following its 'weibo' quickly drew. The website now has nearly 49,000 followers and its terse first message has drawn 3,800 comments and already been reposted nearly 10,000 times.