Union chairman Yang Kuang-you said the union, which invited Li to come here, was required to sign an agreement with the China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council

The council insisted the star's visit be classed as a "cultural exchange" and under the terms of the agreement, Chinese artists are not permitted to make speeches. Chinese artists also could not promote themselves using advertising.

Li was also prevented from broadcasting her performances in Taiwan or taking media interviews.

On the eve of Li's departure, Yang broke his silence to lash out at the MAC. "I must have been crazy to sign the contract," he said. "...We are a democratic country. Why do we have to be like this to visitors who are invited here?"

Li, who is 21 and loves Shakira and Ricky Martin, was here for a few days, leaving yesterday.

In the end, she did manage to make a few comments to the media. But, adding to the controversy, the union asked all Taiwanese reporters to take the logos off their microphones to hide their identities as members of the island's media.

MAC chairman Joseph Wu denied that his council went as far as asking the media to remove the logos from their microphones,.

"That was not a request made by the MAC," he said.