Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Yao Ming, center for the NBA's Houston Rockets, was denied permission to visit Taiwan next month for a charity fund-raising luncheon, the China Times reported, citing Taiwan Basketball Association Deputy Secretary- General Wang Jen-sheng.

The Mainland Affairs Council on Aug. 23 verbally informed the association, which had submitted the application, of the Taiwanese government's decision, the Taipei-based Chinese- language newspaper reported. Yao, who is from China, was scheduled to arrive on Sept. 7, and planned to raise $200,000 for the island's charity groups, the newspaper reported.

No reason for the decision was given in the newspaper report.

Taiwan and China have been ruled separately since 1949, when communist troops took control of the mainland. China has threatened to invade Taiwan if the island declares independence.

To contact the reporter for this story: George Hsu in Taipei at georgehsu@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 24, 2007 21:55 EDT