Beijing, Sept 30 (ANI): A Chinese version of the Nobel peace prize has been scrapped one year after being launched because the government disbanded the organizing committee.
The Confucius peace prize was launched last December as a riposte to the Nobel committee's honouring of jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. However, less than nine months later, the Association of Chinese Local Art, which initiated the prize, said it was cancelling the award in a statement posted on the website of the ministry of culture.
Although no explanation was given for the decision, many believe that the step was taken after the launch of the prize was criticized in media reports.
The first winner, the former Taiwanese Vice-President Lien Chan, failed to turn up to the chaotic inaugural ceremony, as his office was apparently unaware that the event was taking place. (ANI)
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