Controversy has been sparked by Barbie’s South China Sea Map Reddit thread.
Due to a sequence that allegedly depicts a contentious globe map, Vietnam may forbid the release of the next Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie.
The image in question, which has begun trending on Reddit, depicts Robbie in front of a map that has a rough sketch of the continent labelled “Asia.”
There are eight dashes coming out of Asia’s right side, which some have theorised or interpreted as the Nine-Dash Line.
According to Vi Kien Thanh, the chairman of the Vietnam Cinema Department, the Vietnamese government confirmed banning the Barbie movie because it allegedly depicted “the illegal image of the ‘cow’s tongue line’ in the film.”
This expression refers to the Nine-Dash Line, which China and Taiwan established as their shared border in the South China Sea.
This marking asserts possession of a substantial chunk of the region, which is claimed by a number of other nations including Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Some social media users who support Vietnam’s claim to the South China Sea are alarmed by the Barbie movie’s shot, citing the region’s historical annexation and the negative impact of China’s claims on the livelihoods of regional fisherman.
However, several Reddit users recognise that the Western ignorance of the complexities of the territorial conflicts in the region is largely responsible for the depiction of the map.
The Barbie movie is not the first one that has been threatened with a ban in Vietnam because of contentious images or situations.
Previous releases have also been prohibited because of imagery that some argue violates Vietnamese sovereignty claims, including the animated children’s movie Abominable and Tom Holland’s Uncharted.
The distribution of films, television programmes, and other forms of media is subject to severe rules in Vietnam.
Every film that attempts to reach the market is scrutinised by the nation’s censorship board, which is in charge of approving or disapproving films based on their content, especially when those sequences contradict with Vietnam’s territorial claims.
The Barbie movie’s release ban is not the first time social media has been crucial in bringing attention to and igniting debate on delicate political matters.
Particularly Twitter has been helpful in quickly disseminating information and elevating views that frequently go unnoticed.
The contentious image from the Barbie movie was tweeted by Twitter user @rzhongnotes, and it has since gained 3.3 million views.
Regarding China’s claims to the disputed regions, many of the comments under the post express worry, pointing to the protracted conflict that has unnecessarily harmed innocent people.
Vietnam isn’t the only nation to have commented on the debate about how the Nine-Dash Line was portrayed in the Barbie movie.
The movie would still be screened in the Philippines, according to senator Risa Hontiveros, because it is a fictional work.
Additionally, she suggested that a disclaimer be added to movie theatres to emphasise that the Nine-Dash Line is a “figment of China’s imagination.”
Similar to Vietnam, the Philippines has contested China’s claims to the South China Sea, opposing China’s efforts to restrict Filipino nationals’ access to the area for fishing and exploration.
The international world has been alarmed by the recent escalation of the confrontation between the two countries.
The Barbie movie, like previous films before it, has brought attention to the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
In particular, the Nine-Dash Line has generated debate since it is thought to violate the regional neighbours’ claims to sovereignty.
Social media has greatly aided in the promotion of these talks, yet it has occasionally resulted in disinformation and the misinterpretation of difficult subjects.
It remains to be seen if the Barbie movie’s controversies would influence how it is received abroad.