Los Angeles Times

Saturday, July 26, 1997

Because with its Martin Scorsese movie Kundun, about Tibet's Dalai Lama, Disney "has indicated a lack of respect for Chinese sovereignty," authorities have frozen Disney ventures in China, Business Week reported in its current (Aug. 8) issue, quoting a cultural official. Yang Buting, vice director of the Ministry of Radio, Film & Television, told the magazine that because of the movie, "we are thinking over our business with Disney." Business Week also observed that the controversy could spill over onto Sony, whose film division is making Seven Years in Tibet, also dealing with the Dalai Lama. It quoted one China-based analyst as saying, "The company (Sony) is expecting some difficulties."