Netflix pulls Chinese drama after Vietnam’s outcry over disputed map
Netflix has removed a Chinese drama series from its streaming platform following backlash from Vietnamese viewers over a map shown in the show that depicted disputed territories in the South China Sea. The series, titled “Go! Go! Sweetie!”, featured a scene where a map illustrating China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea was shown, including the “nine-dash line” that Vietnam and other countries in the region reject.
Vietnamese authorities and citizens expressed strong objections to the inclusion of the controversial map, which they view as a violation of their country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the display of the map in the drama series and called on Netflix to remove the show.
In response to the outcry, Netflix decided to pull the series from its platform globally. A spokesperson for the streaming service stated that they respect the concerns raised by Vietnamese viewers and have removed the show in order to comply with local regulations and respect the sovereignty of all countries.
The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where several countries have competing claims over islands and waters. China’s expansive claims in the region, as demarcated by the nine-dash line, have been a source of tension and conflict with neighboring countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
The removal of the Chinese drama series by Netflix underscores the challenges faced by global companies operating in the complex geopolitical landscape of the Asia-Pacific region, where territorial disputes remain a contentious issue.
Sources Analysis:
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs – The ministry is directly involved in the issue and has a clear interest in safeguarding Vietnam’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Netflix spokesperson – As a representative of the streaming service, the spokesperson’s goal is likely to manage the company’s image and compliance with local regulations.
Fact Check:
The inclusion of a map depicting China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea in the Chinese drama series – Verified fact. This information is confirmed by multiple sources and widely reported.
Vietnamese authorities condemned the display of the map and called for the removal of the show – Verified fact. Statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs support this claim.
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Model:
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Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Netflix pulls Chinese drama after Vietnam’s outcry over disputed map”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.