The incident drew strong criticism from Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, which argued that it was not enough to just cancel the concerts – those responsible for approving the event had to be held legally accountable.

“The authority and values of the relevant departments are heavily questioned, and public trust is inevitably eroded,” it said in a commentary on Wednesday.

“Cancelling So’s concerts is necessary, and holding those accountable is also essential. Only by taking these actions can we serve as a warning to others and create a deterrent effect.”

It wrote that drugs were a public nuisance to society, and drug prevention efforts were crucial for “national security, the country’s prosperity and the well-being of the people”.