August 05, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 20, 1428

BEIJING, Aug 4: China has summoned a Japanese diplomat and lodged “a stern representation” after Taiwan’s national anthem was played at the Asian men’s basketball championships, state media said on Saturday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned an official of the Japanese embassy in Beijing to express China’s anger over the issue, the Xinhua said.

“China expresses strong protest and demands the Japanese side immediately take effective measures to remove the vile influence and avoid similar events from happening again,” Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying.

The Japanese organising committee and Asian Basketball Federation have extended a formal apology to China, according to Xinhua, at the Japanese event.

The competition organisers said that the national anthem was played at the start of Taiwan's first three matches by mistake and was corrected after China noticed the error and complained.

A day before the championship, competition officials asked the leader of the Taiwanese team if the anthem was right and the leader said it was, according to the organisers.—AFP