Reports from Vietnam state media indicate that the government has banned the distribution of the popular movie “Barbie” due to a scene displaying a map featuring disputed Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Vietnamese newspapers, including Vietnam Express, along with other media outlets, have mentioned that they banned posters promoting “Barbie” from movie distributors’ websites following the government’s decision on Monday. The film, featuring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken in Greta Gerwig’s comedic portrayal of their “perfect” world, was initially scheduled to be released in Vietnamese theaters on July 21.
According to the reports, Vi Kien Thanh, the director general of the Vietnam Cinema Department, stated that the decision was made by the National Film Evaluation Council. The map depicted in the film apparently includes China’s controversial “nine-dash line,” which extends Beijing’s territorial claims deep into waters that are also claimed by Vietnam and other neighboring countries.
What Is The “nine-dash line”?
The “nine-dash line” is a contentious issue involving China and its neighboring countries, as it represents Beijing’s maritime border extending into areas that are also claimed by other governments, encompassing a significant portion of the South China Sea. This dispute has led to tense standoffs with ASEAN nations such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. Chinese fishing boats and military vessels have displayed increasing aggression in these disputed waters.
When questioned about this matter during a regular briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated China’s clear and consistent stance on the South China Sea issue. Mao emphasized that the countries involved should not associate the South China Sea dispute with ordinary cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
China is particularly sensitive to how its national image and territorial claims are depicted in entertainment and business contexts. The country has a track record of retaliating against companies, ranging from hotels to airlines if it perceives any suggestion that self-governing Taiwan, with its different political system, country code, and currency, is separate from China.
Companies typically comply with Chinese demands to avoid being excluded from the immense and lucrative Chinese market. This compliance extends to Hollywood films, which often modify or remove scenes based on anticipated reactions from the ruling Communist Party and the highly nationalistic Chinese public.
China dismissed the 2016 ruling by an international court that declared the “nine-dash line” without legal foundation and affirmed the Philippines’ rights to an exclusive economic zone in a portion of the disputed area claimed by Beijing.
Conclusion
Vietnam banned the ‘Barbie’ movie due to an illustration depicting China’s map image having sparked controversy and raised questions about the influence of political tensions on cultural expressions. This incident highlights the delicate nature of territorial disputes and the potential impact they can have on the entertainment industry.
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