South Korea Stands Alone as Asia’s Eurovision Contest Is Missing China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Japan

Major music cultures absent

The first Eurovision Song Contest Asia aims to introduce Asian pop music to an international audience, but its lineup excludes the continent’s four most populous nations: China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia. Japan is also not taking part.

The omissions leave Bollywood, Mandopop, Cantopop and J-pop outside the competition. South Korea is the only large pop powerhouse represented, according to the report.

China and Eurovision’s dispute

Eurovision entries come through local broadcasters. China’s broadcasters are heavily regulated and seek to reflect government social and political values, contributing to a difficult relationship with the contest.

In 2018, Eurovision ended a broadcast deal with Mango TV after the Chinese service censored performances with gay themes and blurred rainbow flags in the arena. Former Eurovision official Frank-Dieter Freiling said the censorship conflicted with the contest’s values. Organizers had also historically barred broadcasters from showing the competition on delay.

Other broadcasters’ plans unclear

The reasons India, Pakistan, Japan and Indonesia are absent are less certain. Eurovision Asia executive producer Assaf Blecher said talks with broadcasters in China, Japan and India had not concluded in time. Blecher said those broadcasters “are knocking on our door,” suggesting discussions could continue.

Risks of a poor result

Not entering also avoids the possibility that a regional power finishes last and faces embarrassment. The report points to Britain and Germany’s poor results in the European contest as examples.

Britain’s Look Mum No Computer came last in this year’s show with one point, while Germany placed third from last. Political commentators have sometimes linked such results to the countries’ standing across Europe.