The Barbie movie sparked controversy for its portrayal of the South China Sea. Photo: Warner Bros Pictures
Congress has been warned of its plan to punish Hollywood for censoring blockbusters in China.
The House of Representatives approved an amendment that would ban the U.S. military from helping movie studios facing censorship after the latter the film «Top Gun» was edited to remove the Taiwanese flag.
Critics of the EKRAN Act (banning communist regimes from participating in editing now) say it could harm American soft power as the United States faces a delicate propaganda battle with its strategic rival.
Mark Green, the Republican spokesman behind the law, says Hollywood has allowed films to be «dictated by a foreign regime» and called for restrictions on their access to military equipment and expertise.
The amendment will now enter into force. will be the subject of debate between the two houses of Congress and could be signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden later this year.
But Hollywood insiders have said a ban on the US military from granting access to its resources to filmmakers risks damaging America's soft power in against China.
The Pentagon often gives studios access to ships, aircraft, and its own military experts to ensure the accuracy of films and portray US military personnel in a positive light.
This practice became controversial after the trailer for the film «Up». Pistol: Paramount Pictures' Maverick was censored in China for removing Taiwanese and Japanese flags from Tom Cruise's bomber jacket.
The name of the future
The flags were restored in the film's western release last year, but remained missing from the Chinese edition, prompting outrage from Republican skeptics in China.
Writing to The New York Times, a former Navy SEAL-turned-stuntman warned Congress that the amendment would force studios to make a «false choice» between access to military hardware and Chinese audiences and could «undermine America's ability to operate in the information battlespace.»
Kaj Larsen, who has appeared and consulted on blockbusters, including a Top Gun sequel, said the amendment «would hurt America more than China.»
“As a member of the Navy SEALs, I fought for freedom of speech and buried friends who gave their lives for our freedoms, including fellow Navy SEALs whose heroism was later depicted in Hollywood films that depended on Pentagon support.” he wrote.
«While I share Mr. Green's concerns about Chinese censorship, I believe his amendment would be a step back.»
Mr. Larsen said Hollywood would be forced to » give up China» and eliminate American cultural influence, otherwise film studios will have to stop working with the Pentagon, which could «undermine national security and public support for the military.»
He added: «This is a false choice that will undermine America's ability to operate in the space of the information battle, an arena in which, of course, China is one of our main enemies.»
The amendment also affected the situation. was criticized by Democrats, who said it would be «counterproductive» to the US government's goals of spreading American soft power in the Far East.
«I expect a lot of resistance»
Mr. Green told the Telegraph newspaper that abandoning film censorship to appease China and working with the Pentagon «are not mutually exclusive.»
He said, «Hollywood can make a lot of pro-war films that would help recruitment.» join the army and show how great our military guys are… but it's absurd that we just support whatever the Chinese Communist Party wants to say.»
Mr Green added that he expects the Democrats to support Hollywood.
“I expect a lot of resistance and we will see how the conference committee ends up. It can become part of the negotiating card to get something else… it will die to get something else,” he said.
In a vote on a similar bill, it was also introduced According to Mr Green , the House Foreign Relations Committee split along partisan lines, with 26 Republicans supporting it and 23 Democrats opposed.
Gregory Meeks, chairman of the committee, said the bill was «overboard» and «counterproductive.» »spreading American soft power.
A similar effort has been led in the Senate by Ted Cruz, a Texan senator who is one of China's most vocal critics of the Republican Party.
For 'Too long, Hollywood has been implicated in Chinese censorship and propaganda for more profit,” he said, arguing that the measure “will serve as a wake-up call, forcing Hollywood studios to choose between the help they need from the US government and the dollars they want from China.”
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