Vietnam has banned Warner Bros’ highly-anticipated film “Barbie” from domestic distribution due to a scene featuring a map showing China’s disputed territory in the South China Sea, according to state media reports on Monday.
The map, commonly known as the “nine-dash line,” is used by China to assert its claims over large portions of the South China Sea, including areas Vietnam considers part of its territory and has issued oil concessions for.
“Barbie” is the latest film to be banned in Vietnam for featuring the controversial nine-dash line, which was invalidated by an international arbitration ruling from The Hague in 2016. China does not accept the ruling.
In 2019, the Vietnamese government pulled DreamWorks’ animated film “Abominable,” and last year it banned Sony’s action movie “Unchartered” for the same reason. Netflix also removed the Australian spy drama “Pine Gap” in 2021.
“Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was originally scheduled to release in Vietnam on July 21, the same date as in the United States, according to the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper.
“We do not grant a license for the American movie ‘Barbie’ to be released in Vietnam because it contains the offending image of the nine-dash line,” reported Vi Kien Thanh, head of the Department of Cinema, a government body responsible for licensing and censoring foreign films.
Warner Bros did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Vietnam and China have long been involved in territorial disputes over energy-rich areas in the South China Sea.
The Southeast Asian country has repeatedly accused Chinese vessels of violating its sovereignty.
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