MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) requested that the American action film “Uncharted” to be pulled out from Philippine theaters because of a scene that showed an image of China’s nine-dash line. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs claimed in a statement that a scene from the film featuring an image of China’s map of the South China Sea is “contrary to the national interest,” leading it to request the MTRCB to assess the film and restrict it from being screened in local cinemas.

According to the DFA, the MTRCB responded to the department by saying it has “ordered Columbia Pictures Industries Inc. to halt and desist from exhibiting the said motion picture until they are able to delete the offending parts.” 

This is not the first case that the DFA demanded to ban the screening of a Hollywood film that include a scene featuring China’s nine-dash line.

In 2019, the DFA also asked the MTRCB to remove a scene from the animated film “Abominable” that portrayed China’s nine-dash line.

China has made extensive territorial claims in the resource-rich South China Sea, which are contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. 

Following a case submitted by the Philippines, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, dismissed China’s broad claims over the seas in 2016. The decision is not recognized by Beijing.

“The nine-dash claim is contrary to the national interest, which has been settled in the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA said, stating that China’s nine-dash line has no legal basis in international law.

“China also never had historic rights in the waters within the nine-dash line,” it added.

Previous to its March 18 screening, Vietnam banned “Uncharted” in its theaters due to the same map.

Manila and Beijing have been in conflict over maritime issues for years. – WhatALife!

Source: (gmanetwork.com)

---

Also read: WATCH: Marvel Releases ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Trailer