Senator Grace Poe said a proposal to blur the supposed “nine-dash line” scene in the Hollywood film “Barbie”, supposedly to put an end to controversies on China’s historical claim over most parts of the vast South China Sea (SCS), is “kalokohan (foolish).”
Poe said the blurring was suggested by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) following claims that China’s territorial claim over most parts of the SCS is indicated by a “nine-dash line” drawing.
She said she does not see the film having committed any violation on freedom of expression or even geo-political issues.
As the Philippines has sent hundreds of diplomatic protest against China’s violations on the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Poe agrees with the proposal of Sen. Risa Hontiveros that the country brings the issue to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
If this is not the next step towards international recognition of the Philippine claim, “why not?” she asked.
As a former MTRCB chairperson, Poe said she agrees with the MTRCB’s decision to allow public viewing of the “Barbie” movie.
Vietnam has banned its commercial screening in their theaters.
The MTRCB has stated that there was no “nine-dash-line” in the “Barbie” film but “eight-dash-line.”
“When I saw the drawing, the Philippines was not even named and other (neighboring) countries (claimants), including China,” Poe said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Wednesday, July 12.
In fact, “Barbie” made 20 dashes, she said.
Poe also said that the MTRCB made “one step back” when it asked the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and the DFA to comment on the issue.
The DFA stated that there was no violation committed by the film, she added.
Poe stressed that there was no political issue involved.
She, however, appealed to movie producers to be mindful of geo-political ramifications of their movies.
To critics of the film, Poe appealed that they see movies first before making comments.
Asked whether she wants to hear President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. talk about the South China Sea issue, Poe recalled hearing the President that he would not surrender an inch of Philippine territory to China.