A group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers urged Walt Disney Co CEO Bob Chapek to explain the company's connection with "security and propaganda" authorities of China's Xinjiang region during the production of live-action war epic "Mulan".
Disney's $200 million live-action remake of its animated classic about a female warrior in ancient China has run into controversy for being partly filmed in the Xinjiang region, where China's clampdown on ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims has been criticized by some governments, including the United States, and human rights groups.
"Disney's apparent cooperation with officials of the People's Republic of China (PRC) who are most responsible for committing atrocities - or for covering up those crimes - is profoundly disturbing," the Republican senators and representatives wrote in Friday's letter.
It urged Disney to make a detailed explanation.
The letter was retweeted by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), which monitors human rights and the rule of law and submits an annual report to President Donald Trump and Congress.
Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lawmakers, including former presidential candidate Marco Rubio, a Republican senator who co-chairs the CECC, said information on Beijing's role in the detention of Uighurs in Xinjiang was all over the media before the filming of "Mulan."
"The decision to film parts of Mulan in cooperation with the local security and propaganda elements, offers tacit legitimacy to those perpetrators of crimes that may warrant the designation of genocide."
China's foreign ministry has repeatedly denied the existence reeducation camps in the region, calling the facilities vocational and educational institutions and accusing what it calls anti-China forces of smearing its Xinjiang policy.
The lawmakers also asked Disney about the use of local labor, Uighurs or other ethnic minority labor, "as well as due diligence performed to ensure that no forced labor was used during the film's production."
The film, out on Disney's streaming service in many markets, was released in China on Friday and earned 46 million yuan ($6.7 million) at the box office by 8 p.m. (1200 GMT).
The Trump administration said this week it has prepared orders to block imports of cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang over the accusations of forced labor.
Reuters
Sun Sep 13 2020
The film, out on Disney's streaming service in many markets, was released in China on Friday and earned 46 million yuan ($6.7 million) at the box office by 8 p.m. (1200 GMT) - Instagram @disneystudios
Piala Thomas 2024: 15 skrin besar tayang aksi separuh akhir Malaysia-China esok
Antara lokasi yang dilaksanakan oleh Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) antaranya ialah Dataran Merdeka dan Dataran Putrajaya.
Program Pra Tahfiz Kemas mampu lahirkan murid prasekolah kuasai 4M
Program Tabika Pra Tahfiz Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat (Kemas) yang bermula secara rasmi tahun ini mampu melahirkan murid prasekolah yang menguasai 4M iaitu mengaji, menghafal, menaakul (membuat pertim
Niaga SPOTLIGHT: Labour Day 2024 | Social Justice & Decent Work for All
Tehmina Kaoosji spoke with Sivaranjani Manickam, Workers Bureau Head, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
Pekerja pusat servis maut, rakan parah tayar meletup
Siasatan mendapati kejadian berlaku kira-kira jam 12.40 tengah hari ketika kedua-dua mangsa sedang mengisi angin tayar sebuah jentolak.
Niaga SPOTLIGHT: Labour Day 2024 | Progressive Wage Policy & Living Wages
Xavier Estupinan, Regional Wage Specialist, DWT (Decent Work Team) Asia and the Pacific, for International Labour Organisation (ILO) joins us now from ILO’s Regional Office in Bangkok to share some comments on Progressive Wage Policy and Living Wages.
Isu samun: Terengganu pandang serius kejadian melanda Akhyar Rashid
Akhyar Rashid mengalami kecederaan ringan di bahagian kepala dan kaki, namun beliau dilaporkan berada di dalam keadaan stabil.
Permohonan pembatalan kes rasuah Guan Eng, isteri dan Li Koon ditolak
Permohonan itu membabitkan projek asrama pekerja asing bernilai RM11.6 juta.
WEF: Mendasari geopolitik, mencari keterangkuman
Editor Kanan Niaga AWANI, Najib Aroff membawakan rangkuman Mesyuarat Khas WEF yang berlangsung baru-baru ini di Riyadh, Arab Saudi bersama Pengarah Strategi, KRA Group, Amir Fareed Rahim.
EPL: Mauricio Pochettino pimpin Chelsea benam Spurs
Satu gol pada setiap separuh masa daripada Trevoh Chalobah dan Nicolas Jackson memberikan The Blues kemenangan yang tidak ternilai.
Kadar Fed AS kekal, ekonomi akan mengukuh atau melemah?
Rizab Persekutuan (Fed) AS mengekalkan kadar faedah penanda arasnya tidak berubah. Apakah faktor yang menyumbang kepada keputusan ini dan bagaimana prospek ekonomi serta pasaran dalam tempoh terdekat?
Lai Ching-te dari DPP menang Pilihan Raya Taiwan
Lai berdepan saingan tiga penjuru dengan Hou Yu-ih dari Kuomintang (KMT) dan Ko Wen-je dari Parti Rakyat Taiwan.
Pilihan Raya Taiwan: Rakyat mula jalankan tanggungjawab masing-masing
Pilihan raya tersebut menyusul ketika Beijing meningkatkan tekanan untuk mendapatkan pulau itu menerima kedaulatannya.
Beijing alami lebih banyak salji, gelombang sejuk dijangka melanda
Kawasan perbandaran Beijing mengalami lebih banyak salji pada Khamis dengan gelombang sejuk dijangka melanda ibu negara China itu pada Jumaat.
33 maut hujan paling lebat landa Beijing
Sekurang-kurangnya lima pekerja bantuan adalah antara mangsa yang maut. 18 orang lagi mangsa masih hilang.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Blinken tiba di China bagi kendurkan ketegangan
Beberapa siri pertemuan dengan wakil kerajaan berpangkat tinggi dirancang sebelum Blinken berlepas pada Isnin.
Gelombang panas landa beijing, suhu cecah 39 darjah Celsius
Bandar raya Beijing mengeluarkan amaran pada tahap oren berikutan suhu tinggi diramal mencecah 39 darjah Celsius pada Jumaat, menurut pihak berkuasa cuaca tempatan.
Diplomat kanan China, AS bincang tingkatkan hubungan dua hala
Perbincangan itu diadakan di Beijing pada 5 Jun, lapor Sputnik yang memetik Kementerian Luar China pada Selasa.
Presiden Xi mahu Beijing terajui bidang sains dan teknologi
China komited meneruskan strategi keterbukaan serta sedia berganding tangan dengan semua untuk mempromosi inovasi sains dan teknologi.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.