Exploiting cinematic works to insert the 'cow tongue line'

“Cow tongue line” in imported cultural and cinematic works

Recently, the Government has issued Decree No. 22/2022/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 32/2012/ND-CP on the management of export and import of cultural products not for business purposes, including adding a number of regulations on film import.

A noteworthy addition is Clause 3, Article 8 of the Decree on the authority to grant licenses to import cultural products. Specifically, the licensing authority will revoke the film import license when it is discovered that the film content violates the prohibitions in the Cinema Law.

This decree was issued not long after the film Uncharted (Vietnamese name is Ancient Hunter) was banned from showing in Vietnam because it contained a scene containing the "cow tongue line" (the nine-dash line - drawn by China, illegally claiming sovereignty over most of the East Sea).

Previously, the film was scheduled to be released domestically on March 18.

The blockbuster film Antique Hunter was banned from showing in Vietnam due to its "cow tongue line" image.

In fact, China has repeatedly inserted the image of the "cow tongue line" into cinematographic and artistic works imported, released and shown in Vietnam.

In October 2019, the animated film Abominable (Vietnamese name: Everest - Little Snowman) was pulled from Vietnamese theaters after netizens discovered a map with the "cow tongue line" in a scene.

The film was produced by DreamWorks (USA) in cooperation with Pearl Company of China. After this incident, CGV as the distributor was fined 170 million VND and had to destroy the film (imported digital film files, film promotional materials).

Dealing with the "cow tongue line" on online platforms is not simple.

Not only appearing in theatrical films, works containing the image of the "cow tongue line" appear quite a lot on online film platforms.

Decree No. 22/2022/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 32/2012/ND-CP on the management of export and import of cultural products not for business purposes, including adding a number of regulations on film import, has received much consensus and support from netizens.

With the rapid development of online movie platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+,... handling the "cow tongue line" phenomenon on online platforms is a big question for film management authorities in Vietnam.

Specifically, on September 15, 2021, in episode 13 of the movie Nhat sinh nhat the (One life one life) broadcast on the iQiyi Vietnam platform, there was a segment containing the image of the "cow tongue line".

In July this year, the film Pine Gap also contained incorrect images about Vietnam's sovereignty over seas and islands when the image of the "cow tongue line" map in the East Sea appeared in episodes 2 and 3 of the film. Immediately, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information (Ministry of Information and Communications) sent a document requesting Netflix to remove this film.

Previously, the movie Put Your Head On My Shoulder (Vietnamese name is To Our Warm Youth) aired in July 2020 and the movie Madam Secretary (Vietnamese name is Madam Secretary) in August 2020 on Netflix also had scenes violating Vietnam's sovereignty.

Discussing this issue, Mr. Le Van Nghiem - former Director of the Department of Foreign Information, Ministry of Information and Communications said that with works shown on online platforms, especially companies without representatives in Vietnam, the Ministry of Information and Communications will be responsible for directly contacting and sending documents requesting the removal of images containing false information about Vietnam's legitimate rights at sea.

However, this process will require a lot of time and effort.

The image of a map with the "cow tongue line" appeared in episode 13 of Nhat sinh nhat the.

Exploiting cinematic works to insert the "cow tongue line"

Explaining the reason why China chose films to insert details of the “cow tongue line”, Major General Nguyen Van Tin - former Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department, Vietnam People's Army, commented that this was a deliberate staging, a propaganda trick to distort Vietnam's territorial sovereignty.

“Cinema is a series of art forms that attract many viewers. When a film is released, its impact will be both wide and deep. Because a film will be shown in many places, for many years, even many generations. “Slow and steady wins the race”, if we are not vigilant and promptly detect images that violate Vietnam’s legitimate rights at sea, the consequences will be not small” - Major General Nguyen Van Tin warned.

Major General Nguyen Van Tin - former Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department, Vietnam People's Army.

Having been a member of the Film Censorship Council of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for two years, Major General Nguyen Van Tin said that the trick of putting the "cow tongue line" detail into movies is also a very clever way of camouflage and is difficult to detect.

Besides, to increase effectiveness, China often chooses romantic movies, blockbusters, and movies with famous actors to "insert" the image of the nine-dash line.

The power and awareness of public opinion

Former Director of the Department of Foreign Information, Ministry of Information and Communications Le Van Nghiem said that international public opinion and Vietnamese public opinion are playing a significant role in eliminating the influence of the "cow tongue line" - a form of "map invasion" carried out by China to change the perception of Vietnam and the world.

However, many major countries such as the UK, France, and the US have had very clear views on the East Sea issue. Recently, the US has just released a report "Limitations on the 150 Sea Zones".

The latest report from the US State Department questions China's unilateral claim of sovereignty over more than 100 geographical entities in the East Sea, rejecting many arguments and claims.

In addition, the Vietnamese online community has repeatedly expressed its strong voice and views on works containing the "cow tongue line" that have been broadcast and posted.

In June 2021, artist Feifei Ruan published the China Oceanographic Map, which listed 35 marine species, half of which live in waters under Vietnam's sovereignty. The author added the nine-dash line to make them Chinese.

However, Feifei Ruan had to remove the post from the Behance social networking site shortly after receiving numerous negative comments and reports of violations.

Previously, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out globally, the Chinese Embassy in Italy posted on Facebook and Twitter a picture of medical staff from both countries holding up maps of the two countries, expressing their gratitude and mutual support to overcome COVID-19. The map of China in the picture also included the “cow tongue line”.

This article has met with fierce opposition from Vietnamese netizens.

Prevent from the moderation step

From his own experience in the National Film Censorship Council, Major General Nguyen Van Tin said: "After the incident of the "cow tongue line" image in the last seconds of the film,Operation Red Sea, The Secretariat has directed to add 4 more people to the Film Censorship Council, increasing from 5 to 9 people. They are all experts and have a voice. The Film Censorship Council has worked very hard. There were film review sessions that lasted 3 - 4 hours while sensitive images such as the "cow tongue line" only appeared for less than 1 second and were often included in minor details. Each year, more than 200 films have been reviewed by the Council, ensuring the ideological content, aesthetics, and lifestyle of the Vietnamese people" - Major General Tin said.

The picture of medical staff from both countries holding up a map of the two countries containing the "cow tongue line" was posted by the Chinese Embassy in Italy.

Recently, the "cow tongue line" detail in the blockbuster movieAntique hunterstarring Tom Holland was discovered very early, before the premiere. It was the effort and accumulation of no small amount of members of the Film Censorship Board”./.