Republican Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has implemented an update to the Defense Department’s regulations for collaboration with movie studios, asserting the United States’ stance against censorship demands from Communist China.
Under the revised rules, the Pentagon will no longer provide assistance or access to movie studios that succumb to the censorship demands of the Chinese Communist Party. Senator Cruz played a leading role in this initiative by incorporating language into the fiscal 2023 defense policy bill.
Highlighting the Chinese Communist Party’s significant investment in propaganda and censorship, Cruz stated, “For years, Hollywood aided them by censoring movies to appease China while also collaborating with the U.S. government. This new guidance, which enacts the SCRIPT Act I authored, will compel studios to make a choice. I am cautiously optimistic that they will make the right decision and reject China’s blackmail.”
As per the updated regulation, the Department of Defense will refrain from providing production assistance when there is clear evidence that a production has complied or is likely to comply with demands from the Government of the People’s Republic of China to censor project content in a manner that advances China’s national interest.
The issue gained prominence when “Top Gun: Maverick” removed the Taiwan flag from Tom Cruise’s flight jacket to appease a Chinese investor. Following public backlash, Cruise reinstated the flag, but the movie was subsequently banned in China. However, it still achieved remarkable success at the global box office, unlike a movie involving John Cena.
Cena faced criticism after issuing an apologetic statement for mentioning Taiwan, raising questions about the perception of capitulation to the Chinese communists. Senator Cruz highlighted this incident, asking, “What message does it send when Maverick fears the Chinese communists?”
Chinese government censors have been known to exert unpredictable and demanding control over movie content. They pressured the producers of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” to remove scenes featuring the Statue of Liberty, as reported by Puck. Additionally, they requested that the filmmakers of “Lightyear” cut a short same-sex kiss, according to CNN. Neither studio complied with these demands, resulting in the films not being released in mainland China.
In Top Gun, on the back of Maverick's jacket he had the Taiwanese flag & the Japanese flag. Chinese censors didn't like that. In return, Hollywood meekly removed the flags.
What does it say to the world when Maverick is scared of Chinese communists? pic.twitter.com/P61OLK4yzo
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) December 20, 2020