The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has revised its guidelines concerning collaboration with Hollywood, stating it will no longer support productions that alter their content to comply with Chinese censorship demands. This policy shift, reported by Politico, stems from Senator Ted Cruz's ongoing efforts to counteract Chinese influence on American films. The issue gained prominence after early trailers for "Top Gun: Maverick" showed the removal of Taiwanese and Japanese flags from Maverick's jacket, a move attributed to appeasing Chinese investor Tencent. Although the flags were reinstated after public backlash and Tencent's withdrawal, the incident highlighted the growing concern over Chinese censorship.

The DoD's updated policy explicitly states it will withhold production assistance if there's evidence a film has or is likely to censor content to appease the Chinese government. This has significant implications for Hollywood, as the DoD has long provided support for military-themed films, including access to bases, equipment, and personnel. Notably, the Navy's collaboration with "Top Gun: Maverick" involved the use of F/A-18 Super Hornets, albeit at a cost of $11,000 per hour and with strict operational restrictions.

This tension between Hollywood and the U.S. military arises from increasing pressure from Chinese censors. Recent examples include requests to remove references to a gay relationship in the "Fantastic Beasts" film and a same-sex kiss in Pixar's "Lightyear." While Warner Bros. complied with the former request, Disney/Pixar refused the latter, leading to "Lightyear" not being released in China.

Senator Cruz, a prominent voice against Chinese influence in Hollywood, introduced the SCRIPT Act in 2020 to restrict DoD cooperation with studios engaging in foreign censorship. Although the SCRIPT Act wasn't passed, similar provisions were incorporated into a 2023 defense policy bill. The DoD’s new guidelines reflect the implementation of these provisions.

In response to the new policy, Sen. Cruz expressed cautious optimism, stating, "This new guidance…will force studios to choose one or the other, and I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll make the right choice and reject China's blackmailing." This suggests a potential turning point in the relationship between Hollywood, the DoD, and China, with studios now facing a choice between accessing military resources and complying with Chinese censorship.