Chinese authorities reserve the right to deny foreign entertainers, who have offended the state's sovereignty, entry into the country, a statement from the Ministry of Culture says.

"Any individual entertainers or artistic groups formerly involved in activities that endangered state sovereignty will not be allowed in," CRI writes, quoting a circular posted on the ministry's website on Thursday. The new measures also apply to entertainers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

No specific names were mentioned as being blacklisted, but the statement stressed that all information regarding performances to be staged in China will have to be submitted to authorities for approval.

Performances that "undermine national unity, endanger state security, stir up ethnic hatred, violate religious policy and ethnic customs, publicize pornography and superstition" would be barred, CRI quotes the circular as saying.

Foreign entertainers are welcome in China as long as they obey Chinese laws, Vice Minister of Culture, Zhou Heping, told CRI.

After the news became public, netizens from all over China expressed their support for the move to bar the entry of unwelcome performers to the country, CRI says.

The new rule is the latest attempt by China to clamp down on any political dissent before the Beijing Olympics, The New York Times says.

Icelandic singer Bjork figures among the performers denied entry to China after she stirred up controversy in March by chanting "Tibet" during one of her concerts in Shanghai.

The films of American actress Sharon Stone were also banned from UME cinemas in Hong Kong and mainland China, and removed from major film and music stores after the star declared that the May 12 quake had been the result of bad "karma," CRI says.