Barbie: Vietnam Bans Margot Robbie- Ryan Gosling’s Film for Running Map Showing China’s Territorial Claims in the South China Sea
In 2016, a United Nations disputes resolution tribunal in The Hague ruled unanimously against the validity of the nine dash line. But, though the South China Sea arbitration ruling was final and binding, there are no clear mechanisms for its implementation and China has said it does not recognise the decision.
Authorities in Vietnam have banned commercial screenings of Greta Gerwig's Barbie because it contains a scene that depicts a map with the nine dash line, a representation of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, reports Variety. Vietnam has maintained that the line violates its sovereignty. Vi Kien Thanh, director general of the Vietnam Cinema Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said on Monday that the ban was decided by the National Film Evaluation Council. Barbie Banned in Vietnam: Margot Robbie-Ryan Gosling’s Film Lands in Trouble Over Map of South China Sea – Here’s Why.
"We do not grant a licence for the American movie Barbie to release in Vietnam because it contains the offending image of the nine-dash line," said the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper, also citing Vi Kien Thanh, according to Variety.The Warner Bros. film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, one of the most anticipated movies of the summer, was set to have been released in the country on July 21. Many of China’s neighbours, including Vietnam, have competing and overlapping territorial claims and strongly dispute China's assertions, according to Variety. 'Abominable' Pulled From Vietnamese Theaters Due to a Map Showing 'Nine-Dash Line' in South China Sea.
In 2016, a United Nations disputes resolution tribunal in The Hague ruled unanimously against the validity of the nine dash line. But, though the South China Sea arbitration ruling was final and binding, there are no clear mechanisms for its implementation and China has said it does not recognise the decision.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2023 09:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).