Cruz Criticizes Barbie Movie, Claims It Promotes Chinese Propaganda

Texas Senator Ted Cruz has voiced criticism of the new Barbie movie, alleging that it serves as a platform for the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda.

The highly anticipated film, featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and directed by Greta Gerwig, has been banned in Vietnam due to scenes depicting a map that reflects China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Vietnam Bans Barbie Movie for Depicting China’s Claims

Reports indicate that the movie’s planned release in Vietnam on July 21 has been canceled following the government’s decision to ban it.

Major Vietnamese cinema chains have removed the film from their schedules in compliance with the government’s ban, which was the result of its portrayal of the controversial ‘nine-dash line’.

A spokesperson for Senator Ted Cruz strongly criticized the movie, accusing it of promoting Chinese propaganda.

‘BARBIE’ has been banned in Vietnam.

A scene in the film depicts a map with the “nine dash line,” a representation of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, which Vietnam says violates its sovereignty.

(Source: https://t.co/TauBUwZaC9) pic.twitter.com/M0s2EBqUCV

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 3, 2023

According to a statement from Senator Cruz’s spokesperson, the senator has been actively working to prevent American companies, particularly Hollywood studios, from modifying or censoring their content to appease the Chinese Communist Party.

The statement also expressed concerns about China’s influence over American media content.

“China seeks to manipulate what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think. They exploit their vast film markets as leverage to compel American companies into disseminating CCP propaganda,” the statement read.

The statement further noted that the inclusion of the disputed map in the Barbie movie seems to have fallen into this trap.

Senator Cruz’s Efforts and China’s Territorial Dispute

In 2022, Senator Cruz successfully passed legislation preventing government cooperation on films that engage in such censorship.

The root of the issue lies in China’s ongoing attempts to assert its territorial claims over parts of the South China Sea, using the ‘nine-dash line’ to mark its expansive claims over the resource-rich water body.

The ‘nine-dash line’ has been a subject of dispute among various nations, including Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

‘THE MOVIE BARBIE IS FICTION, AND SO IS THE NINE-DASH LINE’

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said this Tuesday after Vietnam bans the upcoming “Barbie” movie from cinemas over scenes with a map showing China’s claims to territory in the South China Sea through its so-called nine-dash line. pic.twitter.com/KpPTlGbIAw

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) July 4, 2023

According to Vietnamese state media outlet Tien Phong, the controversial scene featuring the ‘nine-dash line’ appeared multiple times in the movie.

It’s important to note that all films in Vietnam must pass through a censorship process to screen for excessive violence, explicit sexual content, or politically sensitive material.

This article appeared in Right Wing Insider and has been published here with permission.