Khaberni - Netflix has removed the "Shine on Me" series from its library in Vietnam, due to a scene that included a geographical map related to a regional dispute.
Netflix decided to remove the Chinese drama series "Shine on Me" from its library in Vietnam, following an official complaint submitted by authorities in Hanoi, due to a scene involving a geographical map related to territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The reasons for the removal relate to the appearance of what is known as the "Nine-Dash Line" in one of the episodes, which China uses on its maps to outline the scope of its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam considered this map to be incorrect and a direct violation of its national sovereignty, especially since the area is disputed by a number of Asian countries.
On January 3, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture formally requested that Netflix remove the series within a 24-hour deadline. According to verifications, the work is no longer available for viewing on the platform within Vietnam after the request was fulfilled.
The objected map appeared in the twenty-fifth episode of the series, in a scene discussing China's future in solar energy, where the characters attend a lecture during which a map of China is displayed on a large screen, including part of the Nine-Dash Line.
The "Shine on Me" series achieved notable spread in China and several Asian countries, and entered the list of the top ten most-watched works on Netflix in Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam before the decision to withdraw it. No official comment has been issued from Beijing regarding the move, while the state-run Global Times newspaper urged Vietnam not to link cultural exchange with political disputes.
Extended dispute in the South China Sea
This step reflects the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where China strengthens its demands for sovereignty over the islands and surrounding waters, in opposition from Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. In recent years, China has carried out expansion operations on some islands, established military and civilian facilities, and patrolled the seas, which sometimes led to clashes with Philippine forces.
China bases its claims on historical justifications, including evidence related to ancient navigation and the activity of Chinese fishermen. However, the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued a ruling in 2016 which rejected these claims, a decision that Beijing has not recognized.
Paracel and Spratly Islands at the heart of the dispute
The regional dispute mainly focuses on the Paracel and Spratly Islands, which are surrounded by the Nine-Dash Line on Chinese maps. Vietnam asserts that it has controlled these islands since the seventeenth century, citing historical documents that support its legal stance.
This is not the first incident of its kind, as Vietnam had previously requested Netflix to remove the series Flight to You in 2023, and also banned the screening of global movies such as Barbie and Abominable for the same reason, related to the display of maps including Chinese territorial claims.
