Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) does not consider the dashes in the controversial map in the much-awaited “Barbie” live-action movie as a representation of China’s disputed nine-dash line claim.
“Having carefully reviewed the film, the Department is not convinced that the lines shown depict anything more than a fictitious path in an imaginary world map,” the DFA said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) previously allowed the commercial screening of the film despite criticisms over a scene supposedly featuring the nine-dash line that led Vietnam to ban the movie.
The MTRCB said the film underwent “meticulous” consultation with the DFA in determining whether the map in question contradicts the landmark arbitral ruling that disproved China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
READ: What you need to know about the arbitral tribunal’s ruling
“To avoid any misinterpretation, the Department has provided advice to the MTRCB,” the DFA said without elaborating. “The Department trusts that the MTRCB will do its utmost in the exercise of their mandate.”
The MTRCB earlier said it requested Hollywood distributor Warner Bros. to blur the controversial dashes in the movie, which is set to hit Philippine theaters on July 19.
Senator Grace Poe, a former chairperson of the MTRCB, disagreed with the request to blur the disputed dashes as she believes doing so amounts to censorship.
“Kalokohan yun,” Poe said. “Bakit mo ibu-blur kung wala namang mali? [That’s nonsense. Why would you blur it if there is nothing wrong?] For me, that’s censorhip and that’s wrong.In addition to appearing like a child’s artwork, Poe maintained that the map does not show the name of the Philippines.
