Barbie South China Sea Map Reddit Sparks Controversy

May 2024 · 4 minute read

Barbie’s South China Sea Map Reddit thread has ignited controversy. 

The release of the upcoming Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie faces a ban in Vietnam due to a scene that contains an alleged controversial depiction of a map of the world. 

The shot in question, which has started going viral on Reddit, shows Robbie standing in front of a map with a crude outline of the continent labeled as “Asia.” 

Out of the right side of Asia are eight dashes that some have speculated or interpreted as the Nine-Dash Line.

The Vietnamese government confirmed banning the Barbie movie due to the supposed depiction of “the illegal image of the ‘cow’s tongue line’ in the film,” according to Vi Kien Thanh, the head of the Vietnam Cinema Department. 

This phrase pertains to the territorial markings China and Taiwan established in the South China Sea, known as the Nine-Dash Line. 

This marking claims ownership of a significant portion of the territory, disputed by several other countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The Barbie movie’s shot has caused alarm to some social media users who support Vietnam’s claim to the South China Sea, citing the historical annexation of the territory and the harmful effects of China’s claims on the livelihoods of local fishermen. 

However, some Reddit users understand that the depiction of the map is mainly a product of Western ignorance of the complexity of the territorial issues within the region.

Barbie Movie: Another Addition to Vietnam’s Ban List

The Barbie movie is not the only film to face a ban in Vietnam due to controversial scenes or depictions. 

Previous releases, such as the children’s animated film Abominable and Tom Holland’s video game adaptation Uncharted, have also been banned due to imagery that allegedly infringes on Vietnamese sovereignty claims.

The Vietnamese government has strict regulations on the propagation of movies, TV shows, and other media. 

The country’s censorship board monitors every movie that seeks to enter the market and is responsible for approving or rejecting films based on content, particularly scenes that conflict with Vietnam’s territorial claims.

Barbie South China Sea Map Reddit: The Role of Social Media 

The Barbie movie’s release ban is not the first instance where social media has played a vital role in raising awareness and sparking discussions on sensitive political issues. 

Twitter, in particular, has been instrumental in spreading information fast and amplifying voices that often go unheard.

Twitter user @rzhongnotes posted the controversial shot of the Barbie movie, which has since received 3.3 million views. 

Many of the comments under the post express concern about China’s claims to the disputed territories, citing the long-standing conflict that has caused unnecessary harm to innocent people.

The Philippines’ Response to the Barbie Movie

Other countries besides Vietnam have also weighed in on the controversy surrounding the depiction of the Nine-Dash Line in the Barbie movie. 

Senator Risa Hontiveros of the Philippines stated that the film would still be shown in the country due to its fictional nature. 

She also proposed adding a disclaimer in cinemas to highlight that the Nine-Dash Line is a “figment of China’s imagination.”

The Philippines, like Vietnam, has disputed China’s claims to the South China Sea, challenging China’s attempt to block the fishing and exploration activities of Filipino citizens in the region. 

The conflict between the two nations has escalated in recent years and has been a cause for concern for the international community.

Conclusion

Like other films before it, the Barbie movie has once again highlighted the longstanding territorial disputes in the South China Sea. 

The Nine-Dash Line, in particular, has been the subject of controversy due to its alleged infringement on the sovereignty claims of other nations in the region. 

Social media has significantly promoted discussions about the issue, though this has sometimes led to misinformation and interpretation of complex issues. 

Whether the controversy surrounding the Barbie movie will affect its release in other countries remains to be seen.

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