MTRCB to sanction, ban movies featuring ‘nine-dash-line’

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board on Wednesday said that it would sanction and/or ban movies which would exhibit the "nine-dash-line" map of China.

The MTRCB thus said in a statement in which it also revealed that it had given the film "Barbie" a parental guidance rating.

The movie was banned in Vietnam over the supposed depiction of the "nine-dash-line" in one of its scenes.

"Considering the context by which the cartoonish map of the character 'Weird Barbie' was portrayed in the film, the Review Committee is convinced that the contentious scene does not depict the 'nine-dash-line'," the MTRCB said.

"Instead, the map portrayed the route of the make-believe journey of Barbie from Barbie Land to the 'real world,' as an integral part of the story," it added.

The MTRCB said it conducted two review sessions and had consultations with relevant government agencies, and a legal expert on the West Philippine Sea as regards "Barbie."

The board banned the movie Abominable in 2019 and Uncharted in 2022 over scenes that showed the "nine-dash-line."

China's "nine-dash-line" indicates its massives claims in the South China Sea, including areas within the Philippines'exclusive economic zone.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12, 2016 upheld the Philippines EEZ and invalidated China's historical claims in the area.

"The Board sternly warns all filmmakers, producers, and distributors that it will not hesitate to sanction and/or ban films that exhibit the 'nine-dash-line' for being contrary to law," the MTRCB said.

It cited Presidential Decree No. 1986, the Philippine Baselines Law, and the arbitral award. —Jiselle Casucian/NB, GMA Integrated News