The Government will strictly handle products with image of China’s nine-dash line in the East Sea and punish those who are responsible for the violation, officials said at a press conference after the Government’s regular October meeting on November 5.

Regarding a scene featuring a map of the East Sea showing the U-shaped line that appeared in the animated film “Everest: The Little Snowman”, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy said acting head of the Vietnam Cinema Department Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and the film censorship board had been disciplined.

The ministry has asked the Vietnam Cinema Department to urge the staff to raise their awareness and remain vigilant on such matters, she said.

On the use of textbooks with the U-shaped line map at the Hanoi University of Business and Technology (HUBT), Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do said HUBT has been instructed to stop the use of the materials, clarify who was responsible and punish them in line with the law.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Cao Quoc Hung mentioned some recent cases when products with images of the U-shaped line were imported for exhibition or sale, which he said are serious violations of law.

In order to prevent similar occurrences, the Ministry of Industry and Trade asked the Finance Ministry and the Transport Ministry to enhance the management of imports.

Hung said all products with such images will be recalled, and handled based on the level of violations.

He added that as early as January 1 this year, the ministry had issued a document requiring all its agencies and units to intensify inspections of commercial activities in areas under their management.