Maroon 5 abandon China concert after Jesse Carmichael tweets the Dalai Lama

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Carmichael tweeted about signing happy birthday to Dalai Lama on July 4
Shortly afterwards gig dates in Shanghai and Beijing were cancelled
Firm behind the concerts said only that there was 'a reason' for change
Fans have since accused the Chinese government of being behind it

Published: 04:21 EST, 17 July 2015 | Updated: 05:33 EST, 17 July 2015

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Maroon 5 have cancelled a concert in China after guitarist Jesse Carmichael tweeted about meeting the Dalai Lama during his 80th birthday celebrations earlier this month.

No official reason was given for Maroon 5's name being removed from two gigs due to take place in September, but fans have speculated that the tweet upset Chinese political censors.

China views Tibet as part of its territory, and is extremely sensitive about attempts to promote the emancipation movement there, or the Dalai Lama, the country's spiritual leader.

Maroon 5 have been forced to cancel a gig in China shortly after guitarist Jesse Carmichael (second left) tweeted fans about meeting the Dalai Lama on his 80th birthday

Live Nation, the company that organised the gig, said there was 'a reason' behind the cancellation but refused to elaborate further - leading fans to speculate that this tweet was behind the change of plans

Carmichael, who plays keyboard and rhythm guitar in the Californian band, tweeted his followers on July 4 to say he had sung Happy Birthday to the Dalai Lama during his 80th birthday celebrations.

The now-deleted message linked to an Instagram image, believed to show the Dalai Lama, which has also since been removed.

That seems to have been enough to have the band's visa declared void, as shortly afterwards two dates in Shanghai and Beijing disappeared from the tour schedule on their website.

Live Nation, which organised the concerts, then revealed that there was 'a reason' behind the cancellations, but refused to elaborate further.

Tour dates in the same month in South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines remain on the schedule, as does another date in Hong Kong, which is governed by different rules than mainland China.

That has led fans to speculate that the connection with the Dalai Lama is the real motivation behind the cancellation, with many venting their frustration online.

'I believe Jesse (Carmichael) did not mean any malice. I also understand the government's attitude. The fans are the ones who suffer,' wrote Qi Chu in a microblog posting.

Another asked: 'Does attending a friend's birthday party equal agreeing with his political views?'

However, not everyone has come out in solidarity with the group, with many negative comments posted across Chinese social media sites.

The Dalai Lama (pictured at Glastonbury last month) has been living in exile since 1959, and Chinese authorities are extremely to anyone seen to be promoting him or the Tibetan emancipation movement

Maroon 5 were due to play two dates in Shanghai and Beijing in September, which have now been removed, though other dates in the same month, in South Korean and Taiwan, have remained

One wrote: 'They’ve nobody to blame but themselves. Anyone who supports Tibetan separatists deserves to be blacklisted. He has dragged his whole band down.'

Another commented: 'It is better they never set foot in China. Foreigners have no right to meddle our own internal affairs.'

However, many accused the negative commentors of being part of the Chinese government's '50 cent army' - a legion of web users paid per message to flood social media sites with comments backing the government's view.

Chinese officials have been especially sensitive about live concerts since Bjork chanted 'Tibet' during her song 'Declare Independence' in 2008.

Authorities censor content they deem to be politically sensitive or obscene, while international music acts are required to submit set lists for major concerts in advance.

Last year, the suggestive lyrics of 'Honky Tonk Women' were apparently too much for China's cultural authorities as the Rolling Stones said the chart-topping song was 'vetoed' for their show.

The Dalai Lama has been living in exile since 1959 when he was forced to flee Tibet after an armed crackdown by the Chinese government after a rebellion there.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner has since become an ambassador for human rights, and has met political and spiritual leaders across the globe.

While China argues that Tibet is part of its territory, legally speaking the region is still a state which the Chinese authorities occupy.