Clarksville Times

Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., recently commended the U.S. Department of Defense for its decision to decline collaboration with films that are subject to censorship by the Chinese Communist Party.

In March, Green reintroduced the "Stopping Communist Regimes from Engaging in Edits Now Act (SCREEN Act)" with the same objective in mind, according to a news release from his office.

"I am glad to see the Pentagon stand up against the CCP’s attempt to censor and control American films," Green said in a June 30 release. "Studios that bow to an adversarial nation's political agenda do not deserve support from our defense agencies."

The legislation prohibits federal film assistance to CCP-affiliated films, bans federal funding for studios that have previously edited for the CCP and mandates written agreements from film studios to refrain from censorship in cooperation with the CCP, according to Green's March release.

Last year, there was controversy when trailers for "Top Gun: Maverick" omitted the Taiwanese and Japanese flags from Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell's flight jacket, according to a June 30 article from Politico. This reportedly sparked outcry among Americans, leading to the flags being restored on Maverick's jacket. 

Additionally, the CCP sought the removal of the Statue of Liberty in certain scenes in the film "Spider-Man: No Way Home," as well as a same-sex kiss in the film "Lightyear," Politico reported.

“American filmmaking should be about free expression and American values," Green said in his June release. "It should not be used as a vehicle for CCP propaganda. That is why I submitted provisions of my SCREEN Act today as an amendment to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The Pentagon’s new rule is a great step forward, but we need protections against CCP propaganda written in law."

Other lawmakers have also spoken out on Chinese censorship, according to Politico. 

“The Chinese Communist Party spends billions on propaganda and censorship,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a vocal opponent of CCP censorship of American films, said in the Politico article. “For years Hollywood helped them by censoring movies so they could be screened in China, while still working with the U.S. government to get those very same movies developed.”

Hollywood and the Department of Defense frequently collaborate on film projects, with the Pentagon granting filmmakers access to military bases, Navy ships and other resources for shooting. Additionally, they provide assistance in various aspects of filmmaking, according to Politico.