Pentagon refuses support for filmmakers aiding Chinese censorship.

The Department of Defense Takes a Stand Against Chinese Censorship in Hollywood

The Department of Defense has made a bold decision that will reshape its relationship with filmmakers in Hollywood. In a policy update last Wednesday, the Pentagon announced that it will no longer collaborate with movie productions if there is “demonstrable evidence” of their willingness to bow down to the Chinese Communist Party’s censorship demands.

For decades, the Pentagon has worked closely with the film industry, providing guidance on military elements depicted in movies. However, this collaboration will now come to an end if filmmakers choose to censor their films to appease the Chinese government.

This issue gained significant attention last year when trailers for the highly anticipated film Top Gun: Maverick were released with the Taiwanese and Japanese flags removed from the iconic flight jacket of Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. This alteration was pushed by Chinese company Tencent, one of the film’s investors. However, due to criticism from the United States, Tencent dropped its investment, and the flags were ultimately restored to Maverick’s jacket.

“The Pentagon will not provide production assistance when there is demonstrable evidence that the production has complied or is likely to comply with a demand from the Government of the People’s Republic of China… to censor the content of the project in a material manner to advance the national interest of the People’s Republic of China,”

This statement, obtained by the Washington Examiner, is part of the Defense Department document outlining the new policy. The change was directed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) through language inserted in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

It’s not just the Top Gun franchise that has faced pressure from the Chinese government. The producers of Spider-Man: No Way Home were urged to remove the Statue of Liberty, and the filmmakers of Lightyear were asked to cut a same-sex kiss. These requests highlight the Chinese government’s desire to control the content of movies entering its market.

With the Pentagon taking a firm stance against censorship, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) expressed his satisfaction, stating, “The CCP will not make our film industry an arm of its propaganda machine now that the Pentagon has taken a stand. I am pleased that the Department of Defense has seen reason and will no longer assist studios that choose to kowtow to a foreign adversary.”