Although this film has not been officially broadcast in Vietnam and images have just spread on social networks, the timely action of the management agency shows consistency and decisiveness in protecting national sovereignty in the cultural space.
According to recorded information, in a scene set in the police station setting, a map with the shape of a "broken line" appears behind the character.
The movie "The Tree of Life" aired from January 30 on the iQIYI platform and CCTV-8 channel (China), attracting great public attention before broadcasting, with millions of trailer views thanks to the cast of famous actors.
This is not an isolated case. Previously, in early January, the Department of Cinema requested Netflix to remove the movie "I See Bright Sunlight" because of the discovery of a "broken line" image in episode 25.
Further back, the movie "Let Me Shine" was also removed from the online platform in October 2025 for the same reason.
Even with international films like Barbie, although Warner Bros. claims that the images are just "drawings", Vietnamese management agencies are still determined not to license them for distribution.
These decisions stem from Vietnam's clear and consistent legal stance.
The "nine-dash line" or "cow's tongue line" has been rejected by the international community. Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed its indisputable sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over sea areas under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In the context of deep integration, cultural products from movies, electronic games, technology applications to media publications, are increasingly spreading strongly.
If not strictly controlled, false images can creep in, silently but long-term affecting social awareness, especially young people.
The act of "planting" images of "broken roads", whether directly or indirectly, whether clear or disguised in the form of graphics, contexts, cannot be taken lightly.
National sovereignty protection must not only take place on the ground or at diplomatic forums, but must also be resolutely implemented on the cultural and ideological front.
The proactiveness and toughness of the Vietnamese cultural management agency sends a clear message, Vietnam is ready to integrate, respect cultural diversity, but does not trade national sovereignty for any entertainment product, no matter how famous or attractive it is.
Sovereignty is sacred and inviolable.
The "broken line" has no place in international law, and it cannot appear in any cultural products circulating on Vietnamese territory.
