The movie, ʻMulan,ʼ released on Disney Plus in the U.S. on October 4 and released in South Korea on September 17, is under intense criticism for helping justify the Chinese governmentʼs oppression of Uyghur human rights. Filming took place in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where the Uyghur human rights abuses are being carried out. The end credits are fueling controversy by saying 'thank you' to the Communist Party in Xinjiang and the Turupan Public Security Bureau, which has Uyghur camps.
In addition, the main actor Liu Yifei (Yu Yifei), made a controversial remark on her SNS in support of the police who suppressed Hong Kong protesters, saying, "Hong Kong is ashamed." In response, Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong said, "I urge everyone who believes in human rights to boycott ʻMulanʼ because Disney is bending to Beijing, and because the main actor openly and proudly supported police brutality in Hong Kong."
Led by Joshua Wongʼs posting, a boycott of ʻMulanʼ using the hashtag "#MilkTeaAlliance" is spreading among democracy activists in Taiwan, Thailand, and Hong Kong. The name came from milk tea, a popular beverage in the three countries. Also, protests to reform the monarchy have recently taken place in Thailand, where Hong Kong protesters expressed their support and formed an alliance.
The New York Times (NYT) pointed out in an analysis of the Mulan boycott movement that "Mulan is becoming a magnet that attracts anger over the Chinese Communist Partyʼs policies that promote nationalism and blind patriotism."
Also, on September 11, the U.S. Congress urged the Disney CEO to explain the controversy that Disneyʼs new film ʻMulanʼ justified the Chinese government's alleged oppression of the Xinjiang Uygur people. The U.S. Congress sent the signatures of 12 members of the U.S. Congress, along with requiring an immediate and detailed answer to 10 items, including why Mulan was filmed there and whether it was related to guaranteed access to the Chinese market in China or Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. However, reports of horrible human rights abuses committed by the Chinese Communists in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were widely known and reliable.
