The "Asian Grammys" has been abruptly cut off by Chinese censors after a Taiwanese presenter made a political statement about the Hong Kong protests on stage.

Key points: Beijing stopped Chinese sites live-streaming the awards when the presenter strayed into political territory

Beijing stopped Chinese sites live-streaming the awards when the presenter strayed into political territory It was not the first time awards ceremonies have been censored in China for broadcasting ideas contrary to the Chinese Communist Party line

It was not the first time awards ceremonies have been censored in China for broadcasting ideas contrary to the Chinese Communist Party line A group of Taiwanese musicians also protested, this time against "American imperialism"

Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards, which were livestreamed to millions of people across Asia on Saturday, was censored on Chinese live-streaming sites when presenter Jen Chiang-da said: "Hong Kong, add oil!"

The phrase "add oil" was added to the Oxford Dictionary last year and is used to express encouragement or support.

The comment appeared to spur on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, where organisers estimated up to 2 million people took to the streets to protest against a much-maligned extradition bill.

Mr Jen's speech ventured further into political territory, tackling not just protests in Hong Kong but also the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.

Mr Jen, the founder of independent label Crystal Records, made the comments as he was presenting an award for "special contribution" to the Blacklist Studio, a group of Taiwanese musicians who released a pro-democracy-themed album called Songs of Madness in 1989.

"In 1989, the Berlin Wall collapsed, the June 4 Tiananmen Square incident [happened], Cheng Nan-jung sacrificed himself for democracy, and the Blacklist Studio released the Songs of Madness," he said.

"It was the year when the world was making an effort to move towards a new order of having more freedom and democracy.

"However, the authority of this land was still the same, and the authorities abused power."

He said while freedom of speech and democracy was under threat in Taiwan during martial law, "the Blacklist Studio wasn't afraid of that trend".

"The Songs of Madness subverted the conservative history of the Government's decree on the music industry, and opened a new era of independence and autonomy for our pop music," he said.

New political platforms

Taiwanese director Yue Fu (right) won the Best Documentary award for her movie Our Youth in Taiwan. ( Reuters: Tyrone Siu )

It is not the first time awards ceremonies have been censored in China for broadcasting ideas contrary to the Chinese Communist Party line.

The Golden Horse Awards, known as the "Chinese Oscars", got political when documentary filmmaker Fu Yue used her acceptance speech to voice her hopes for Taiwan's independence.

"I hope one day our country will be recognised and treated as a truly independent entity," Ms Fu said in her speech in November last year, before she was cut off by Chinese censors.

The Blacklist Studio held a protest of its own, unfurling a banner that read: "I am in Asia. I am anti-American imperialism". ( YouTube: GMA )

The Blacklist Studio had planned a protest of its own, though not of an anti-Chinese flavour. A group unfurled a banner that read: "I am in Asia. I am anti-American imperialism".

Although they were pro-democracy, they shared China's vision of the United States, Jason Wu, founder of Taiwanese think-tank GoldenRock, said.

Mr Wu said there was a trend of celebrities using their platform during live-stream events to evade the censors and pack a political punch.

"Artists speaking out in live events are more widely seen in Taiwan now, because [China] seriously interferes with Taiwanese media … [so] they would try to use any occasion to attempt to speak out," he said.

Taiwan has been closely watching the protests in Hong Kong, where opponents to the extradition bill fear dissidents could be swept off to China to face trial on trumped-up charges.

In mid-June, Taipei hosted an estimated 10,000-strong demonstration in solidarity with Hong Kong and to call out Chinese interference in Taiwan's politics and media.

The majority of Taiwanese citizens harbour deep distrust of the "one country, two systems" model that exists in Hong Kong.

A May survey by the Mainland Affairs Council found 83 per cent of respondents had no faith in "one country, two systems".

"It is widely seen as a joke in Taiwan because even people who are pro-China are also very confused about it," Mr Wu said.

"Both the Government and the public have a very negative impression, where we have seen Hong Kong as a real-life example."