Netflix has removed the Chinese romance drama Shine on Me from its Vietnam platform following protests from the Vietnamese government. The controversy centers on an episode featuring the “nine-dash line” map, which China uses to assert territorial claims in the South China Sea—claims strongly disputed by Vietnam.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture demanded the series be taken down within 24 hours of the January 3 notice, citing the map as “inaccurate” and an infringement on national sovereignty. The map appeared multiple times in episode 25 during a lecture scene showcasing China’s solar power potential.
Shine on Me was popular in China and several Asian markets, ranking in Netflix’s Top 10 in Vietnam, Singapore, and Taiwan before its removal. Beijing has not officially commented, though its state media urged Vietnam to separate cultural exchanges from geopolitical disputes.
The South China Sea dispute involves overlapping claims by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei, with tensions heightened over island sovereignty and territorial waters. Despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling against China’s claims, Beijing continues to assert historical rights based on various evidence.
Vietnam has previously requested Netflix remove content featuring the nine-dash line, including another Chinese drama, Flight to You, in 2023. The Vietnamese government tolerates criticism affirming its own claims but closely monitors and restricts content perceived as undermining national sovereignty.
