The Vietnamese government has banned the distribution of the popular “Barbie” movie due to its inclusion of a map showing disputed Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The film was set to open in Vietnamese theaters on July 21, but posters advertising the movie were removed from distributors’ websites following the government’s decision.
The map in question depicts China’s “nine-dash line,” which extends its territorial claims into waters also claimed by Vietnam and other countries.
This issue is sensitive for China and its neighbors, as an international court ruled in 2016 that the “nine-dash line” has no legal basis.
Companies that contradict Beijing’s claims may face backlash from Chinese customers and protests from the Chinese government.
In the past, Vietnam canceled showings of the movie “Abominable” due to a similar scene depicting the “nine-dash line.”
Article updated 2 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
