"Philippines Considers Banning 'Barbie' Movie Amid South China Sea Dispute"
Film regulators in the Philippines are considering banning Warner Bros' Barbie movie due to a scene depicting a politically sensitive map of Southeast Asia that includes China's controversial "nine-dash line" in the South China Sea. Vietnam has already banned the film for the same reason. Philippine Senator Francis Tolentino suggested that editing out the scene could be a compromise, but this may risk angering Chinese film regulators. China's claim to the South China Sea has been disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. This is not the first time U.S. movies have faced bans in Vietnam and the Philippines for showing China's preferred map. Barbie is set to release internationally on July 19.