Celine Dion has been forced to cancel a concert in China because organizers in Beijing failed to obtain official permission to host the gig - despite selling thousands of tickets.

The My Heart Will Go On star was due to perform in the Chinese capital on April 13th at the 64,000-seat Workers Stadium.

It had initially been reported the singer postponed the concert because of a throat infection, which has already seen her scrap a string of dates in Australia.

But a representative for Dion has hit back at the claims, insisting the concert has not been cancelled due to illness and levelled the blame onto the Chinese officials charged with organizing the event.

The spokesperson tells Chinese newspaper the Beijing Evening News, "(The concert organizer) had sold more than 10,000 tickets, having not carried out the approval process. Celine Dion will solve (the issue) through legal channels."

A new date for the concert has yet to be announced, but the publication reports Dion will still come to the country in April to participate in a promotional event for the forthcoming Olympic Games which will be held in the city in August.

Dion’s world tour is her first in a decade following her five-year stint at Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace, which was brought to a spectacular close last year.