Several Republican lawmakers have criticized the new “Barbie” movie before its release, pointing out that it allegedly depicts a map portraying China’s dominance over the South China Sea.
Criticism from several GOP politicians comes from a scene in the new “Barbie” movie which depicts a map of the world, showing the highly controversial nine-dash line, which is used to show China’s territory in the South China Sea.
China has used the nine-dash-line since the 1940s to depict its territory over the South China Sea. The line has been disputed over many years by Vietnam, the Philippines, and the United States.
The line traces the coasts of Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.
In the movie, the line depicted supports China’s claims to most of the territory in the South China Sea.
China’s “nine-dash line” demarcation gives it control of most of the South China Sea. https://t.co/7N0S4IJnGW pic.twitter.com/iPNJuaxuLC
— Geopolitical Intelligence Services (@GIS_Reports) August 24, 2016
“While it may just be a Barbie map in a Barbie world, the fact that a cartoonish, crayon-scribbled map seems to go out of its way to depict [China’s] unlawful claims illustrates the pressure that Hollywood is under to please CCP censors,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), the Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, in an interview with Fox News.
Florida Rep. Mike Waltz (R) said in an interview with Fox News that the depiction of nine-dash-line was “another disgraceful example of Hollywood being in the pocket of communist China.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also spoke out against the scene in the “Barbie” movie, hinting that China may have had a hand in the production of the movie.
“I guess Barbie is made in China….” Cruz tweeted.
I guess Barbie is made in China…. https://t.co/CDB1IzZcvm
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 3, 2023
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) also criticized the scene in the “Barbie” movie, featuring Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie.
“Leftist Hollywood’s new ‘Barbie’ movie shows a map that supports Communist China’s territorial claims to the South China Sea,” said Blackburn. “Looks like ‘Barbie’ is bending to Beijing to make a quick buck.”
Leftist Hollywood’s new ‘Barbie’ movie shows a map that supports Communist China’s territorial claims to the South China Sea.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) July 5, 2023
Looks like ‘Barbie’ is bending to Beijing to make a quick buck.
Vietnam has already announced that the “Barbie” movie is banned from being shown.
“We do not grant license for the American movie ‘Barbie’ to release in Vietnam because it contains the offending image of the nine-dash line,” said Vi Kien Thanh, the Director of the Department of Cinema, according to Reuters.
Warner Bros. did not immediately respond to IJR’s request for comment.