(AGI) - Beijing, 26 June - When China opened its door to the outside worlds, one of the first images the Chinese saw was Michael Jackson and his album "Thriller" in the early '80s.
  Today thousands of Chinese mourn the person who has become their icon in a virtual embrace between the forbidden city and Times Square. Around 8,000 comments were posted on the popular internet portal Sina.com after the artist's death. ''The whole world has tried to imitate you, nobody was able to surpass you'' a young man wrote. An employee said: ''His life was strange, but his music has been with me since I was young''.
  Also when the star was accused of child abuse, the Chinese fans didn't stop defending him: a survey on Sina.com shows that 87pct of the interviewed were convinced of his innocence.