Warner Bros. Discovery’s collaboration with Chinese state media to produce videos that downplay the Uyghur genocide has prompted a legislative proposal to prevent the Pentagon from partnering with entertainment companies that cooperate with Beijing’s propaganda efforts.
Representative Jim Banks (R., Ind.) has introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which aims to prevent Pentagon funds from being allocated to companies engaged in such partnerships. This measure would effectively bar the Department of Defense from providing military equipment and vehicles for use in films and television shows produced by these studios.
The House Armed Services Committee approved the amendment on Wednesday evening, advancing it alongside the rest of the NDAA. In a statement to National Review, Banks emphasized the need to address Chinese censorship in Hollywood.
“Congress needs to act to disentangle Hollywood from the Chinese Communist Party and combat China’s political warfare,” Banks stated. “These companies are content with the status quo. Congress took a significant step to disrupt this status quo in the 2023 NDAA by cutting off funding for Hollywood projects that allow the CCP to censor scripts. I’m proud to continue the fight to stop Hollywood from capitulating to China.”
Discovery Channel’s Asia division has maintained a long-standing relationship with China Media Group, a subsidiary of the Chinese Communist Party’s central propaganda department. Vikram Channa, vice president of Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, is on a committee overseeing another subsidiary of the central propaganda department.
Earlier this year, China Media Group promoted a documentary about the Xinjiang region co-produced with Discovery. This video series focused on cultural topics and appeared to counter concerns about forced labor and the suppression of Islamic practices among Uyghurs and other ethnic groups.
Following a letter from Banks to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav condemning the partnership, the company distanced itself from the arrangement, stopping short of an apology. The company disclosed that the project was funded by China’s CCTV state broadcaster and produced by Discovery, with joint editorial control.
This partnership has heightened congressional concerns over Chinese influence on America’s entertainment industry.
Warner Bros. Discovery informed Banks that it would not enter into a similar partnership today. A company representative also told National Review that Warner Bros. Discovery had reached out to the Uyghur Human Rights Project and had a constructive meeting with the organization.
The post is based on the content of an article in the “National Review”
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/warner-bros-deal-with-chinese-propaganda-organ-spurs-federal-funding-ban
