Britney to Play China

But she has to sing her songs live and wear “appropriate” clothing – okay she doesn’t really have to sing her songs:

Britney Spears’ first China tour has been approved by the Culture Ministry, but they want to know what she’s wearing before she hits the stage, the official China News Service reported Tuesday.

Spears, who is currently on a world tour to promote her latest album “In The Zone,” will perform five concerts in Shanghai and Beijing sometime next year, CNS said.

Wang Enqiang, an agent for Spears’ Chinese promoter, Beijing Poly Culture and Art Co. Ltd., said the star planned to come to the mainland in 2004, but he had no information about ministry concerns.

However, the star’s sexy image has caused concern. Culture officials have asked the concert’s Chinese organizers to guarantee she doesn’t show too much skin on stage, CNS said.

“Relevant departments will carry out strict reviews of Britney Spears’ performance clothing,” the report said.

….An unidentified spokesman for the concert’s Chinese organizers was quoted by CNS as saying the ministry’s wishes would be respected.

But he said Spears’ outfits and stage show are the same on each stop of the tour and it would be “impossible to make up clothes specially for the China performances.”

With more than 54 million records sold worldwide, Spears would be one of the biggest international pop stars to play here since the communist state’s establishment in 1949. [AP]

U.S. summer tour dates:

June 22: Hartford, Conn.

June 23: Mansfield, Mass.

June 25: Scranton, Pa.

June 26: Darien Center, N.Y.

June 27: Toronto

June 29: Cleveland

June 30: Noblesville, Ind.

July 1: Milwaukee

July 3: Columbus, Ohio

July 4: Hershey, Pa.

July 8: Wantagh, N.Y.

July 9: Wantagh, N.Y.

July 10: Bristow, Va.

July 12: Philadelphia

July 13: Holmdel, N.J.

July 14: Burgettstown, Pa.

July 16: Minneapolis

July 17: Tinley Park, Ill.

July 19: Maryland Heights, Mo.

July 20: Nashville, Tenn.

July 22: Raleigh, N.C.

July 23: Charlotte, N.C.

July 24: Virginia Beach, Va.

July 27: Palm Beach, Fla.

July 28: Tampa Bay, Fla.

July 30: New Orleans

July 31: Mitchell Spring, Texas

Aug. 2: Dallas

Aug. 3: San Antonio

Aug. 5: Albuquerque, N.M.

Aug. 7: Irvine, Calif.

Aug. 8: Concord, Calif.

Aug. 10: Marysville, Calif.

Aug. 11: Mountain View, Calif.

Aug. 13: Chula Vista, Calif.

Aug. 14: Las Vegas

Aug. 15: Bakersfield, Calif.