After the recent controversy surrounding the Barbie film and the upcoming BLACKPINK concert, Vietnam finds itself engulfed in anger and outrage.

Both events have come under fire for featuring maps that display China's contentious nine-dash line, which asserts Chinese sovereignty over the South China Sea—an assertion that is widely disputed by countries like Vietnam.

Vietnam has taken swift action in response to these incidents. The Barbie film, scheduled for release on July 21, was promptly banned in the country due to the inclusion of the controversial map.

Similarly, the BLACKPINK concert, set to take place on October 23 in Hanoi, faced severe criticism after their promotional materials showcased the same disputed map.

Social media platforms were flooded with calls to boycott the concert, prompting iME to issue an apology and remove the contentious map from their website. The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture and Information launched an investigation into the matter, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.

The controversy surrounding these events has ignited debates about Vietnamese laws, national sovereignty, and China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Vietnamese government has made it clear that the promotion and use of materials featuring the nine-dash line is a violation of their laws and will not be tolerated.

As tensions remain high, concerns persist regarding the dissemination of products and publications that include the controversial map within Vietnam. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasised its commitment to upholding Vietnamese law and ensuring the preservation of national sovereignty.

Vietnam's strong stance against the inclusion of the nine-dash line in popular media and events sends a clear message that the country stands firm in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.