In an age where Hollywood’s quest for profits often comes at the expense of artistic integrity and political principles, the film industry finds itself entangled in controversies surrounding China’s influence.
The latest victim is the highly anticipated Barbie movie, which has faced bans in Southeast Asian countries due to its inclusion of the disputed “nine-dash line” on a map. As the Philippines and Vietnam stand up against pro-China displays, a growing resistance to Chinese influence in entertainment is reshaping the dynamics between Hollywood, profits, and political integrity.
Southeast Asia’s Rejection of Barbie Movie
Just weeks before its release, the Barbie movie, a Warner Bros. summer blockbuster, faced a setback in Southeast Asia. The film’s cinematic distribution was banned in Vietnam due to its display of a map featuring China’s controversial “nine-dash line.”
This maritime border claim, rejected by an international tribunal in 2016, asserts China’s control over a significant portion of the South China Sea. Similarly, the Philippines is deliberating whether or not to permit the film’s release, concerned about the promotion of the disputed line.
Pushback from the Philippines
Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros denounced China’s territorial claims and called for action against their ongoing attempts to illegally occupy Philippine territories.
She demanded an explicit disclaimer in local cinemas, highlighting the “nine-dash line” as a figment of China’s imagination. Hontiveros also stressed the importance of raising the West Philippine Sea issue at the UN General Assembly. These statements reflect the Philippines’ determination to resist China’s influence, particularly in popular culture.
Repeat Offenses: Censorship Over the Nine-Dash Line
The controversy surrounding the inclusion of the “nine-dash line” is not an isolated incident. In the past, both the Philippines and Vietnam banned screenings of films that featured the contentious maritime border claim.
Sony’s Uncharted and DreamWorks’ Abominable were subjected to censorship due to brief scenes depicting the disputed line.
Even the immensely popular film Crazy Rich Asians faced cuts in Vietnam to remove a scene featuring a designer handbag displaying China’s control over the South China Sea islands. These recurring instances underscore the persistence of the issue and the resistance of Southeast Asian nations against pro-China narratives.
Hollywood’s Relationship with China
The repeated capitulation of Hollywood to Chinese demands raises questions about the film industry’s relationship with China.
With a massive market of 1.4 billion people, China holds significant influence over global box office success. In their pursuit of access to this lucrative market, studios have frequently attempted to appease China’s strict censors.
However, recent pushback has forced some Hollywood studios to reevaluate their approach. The trailer for Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick initially removed Taiwanese and Japanese flags to cater to Chinese censors but reinstated them after public backlash.
Resisting China’s Influence
The growing resistance from Southeast Asian countries signifies a heightened vigilance against Chinese influence in popular culture.
These countries are becoming increasingly unwilling to tolerate even subtle political propaganda. While outright bans on films may draw criticism for being “petty oversensitivity,” they serve as a powerful message against the erosion of sovereignty and the normalization of China’s expansive claims.
The resistance also extends beyond the big screen, with demands for the removal of content from streaming platforms like Netflix, indicating a broader resistance to Chinese narratives.
The Daily Netizen 