Netflix has removed the Chinese drama series Shine on Me from its Vietnam platform following objections from Hanoi over an episode featuring a map with disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The 27-episode romance series includes images of the nine-dash line, which China uses to assert territorial claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam has criticized the line as “inaccurate” and “infringing upon national sovereignty,” joining other nations that reject China’s claims.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture formally requested the series’ removal on 3 January, giving Netflix 24 hours to comply. By Tuesday, the series was no longer accessible on Netflix Vietnam.
The disputed map appears multiple times in episode 25, during a scene discussing China’s solar power potential. In the episode, the show’s main characters attend a lecture where a projected map of China displays the controversial nine-dash line.
Shine on Me has been widely popular in China and other regions, ranking among Netflix’s Top 10 shows in Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam prior to its removal.
While Beijing has not officially commented on the series’ removal, its state-run newspaper, Global Times, published an article urging Vietnam to “separate cultural exchanges from [the] South China Sea issue.”
