China to check out Britney's raunchy outfits

China’s culture ministry has approved Britney Spears’ first tour of the country – but wants to know what the raunchy pop star is wearing before she hits the stage.

Spears, currently on a world tour to promote her latest album, In The Zone, will perform five concerts in Shanghai and Beijing some time next year, the semi-official China News Service reported today.

However, ministry officials are concerned about the star’s sexy image and have asked the concert’s Chinese organisers to guarantee she does not show too much skin on stage, CNS says.

“Relevant departments will carry out strict reviews of Britney Spears’ performance clothing,” the report said.

It was not clear what standards inspectors would use or how they would be enforced. A spokesman for Spears could not be immediately reached.

The CNS report quoted a spokesman for the concert’s Chinese organisers as saying that the ministry’s wishes would be respected.

But he said Spears’ outfits and stage show were the same on each stop of the tour and it would be “impossible to make up clothes specially for the China performances”.

With more than 54 million records sold worldwide, Spears would be one of the biggest international pop stars to play in China since the communist state was established in 1949.

Last November, pop singer Mariah Carey played two concerts in Shanghai, while British rockers Deep Purple performed in Beijing and Shanghai in March.