Netflix Removes Chinese Drama in Vietnam Over Disputed Map

Netflix has removed the Chinese drama series Shine on Me from its Vietnam platform following objections from the Vietnamese authorities over a map depicting contested territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The 27-episode romance drama included images of the so-called nine-dash line, which Vietnam described as “inaccurate” and a violation of its national sovereignty. Vietnam’s culture ministry issued a directive on 3 January, giving the streaming service 24 hours to comply.

The disputed map appears multiple times in episode 25, during a scene depicting China’s solar power potential. In the episode, characters attend a lecture where a map featuring the nine-dash line is projected on screen.

Shine on Me had been popular in China and other regions, ranking among the top shows in Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam before it was pulled. Chinese authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the removal.

The move highlights ongoing tensions over the South China Sea, where China’s territorial claims, represented by the nine-dash line, are disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Vietnam has historically governed the Paracel and Spratly island chains and maintains extensive documentation supporting its claims.

The issue of the nine-dash line has led Vietnam to request the removal of multiple media productions in the past. Between 2019 and 2024, Netflix received at least eight takedown requests from Vietnamese authorities over similar content, reflecting the government’s efforts to protect its sovereignty claims while allowing other forms of media and entertainment to circulate.