Jet Li and Yu Yubi Face Possible Restrictions in China... Intensifying 'Zhengfeng Movement'

China Mandates Listing of Foreign National Staff in 'Drama Production Regulations'

A screening schedule for the movie "Mulan," starring Liu Yifei, is displayed on a ticket vending machine at a movie theater in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Foreign nationals working as entertainers in China are now facing restrictions. Chinese authorities have announced that if actors or staff members in dramas hold foreign nationality, their nationality must be indicated in the introductory subtitles.

On the 22nd, the National Radio and Television Administration of China released the "Drama Production Regulations," which require that the nationality of foreign cast members or staff be displayed in the introductory subtitles at the beginning or end of dramas. This also applies to actors and staff from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Chinese broadcasters have already often indicated the nationality of cast members voluntarily, but this has now become mandatory. Accordingly, foreign nationals and entertainers from Taiwan are expected to face more restrictions on their activities within China than before.

This move by China is interpreted as part of the "rectification campaign" spreading in the popular culture sector since the first half of this year. Chinese authorities have been expelling entertainers who committed misconduct and imposing strict punishments to enforce discipline in the entertainment industry. Alongside this, ideological and moral standards for performers have also been set more strictly.

Additionally, there has been growing public criticism within China regarding Chinese-born actors who have acquired foreign nationality and continue to work in China while receiving high appearance fees. Considering this, the regulation appears aimed at strengthening controls over foreign-national actors.

Representative foreign-national entertainers active in China include Hong Kong action star Jet Li, famous for "Once Upon a Time in China" and "Swordsman," as well as Yifei Liu from "Mulan," Zhang Jielin, Wei Wei, Sun Yanzi, and from Taiwan, Wang Lihong, Pan Weibo, and Zhao Yuting.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.