China’s over 1 billion inhabitants constitute a huge market that in itself allows the country to impose its own market related laws, censoring even major companies in free markets. Terry Gross had this information in NPR that explores how China’s economic power leads to self-censorship in Hollywood. Here is an excerpt:

Today’s Hollywood blockbusters are specifically being crafted to appeal to Chinese audiences — and pass muster with the Chinese government — according to Wall Street Journal reporter Erich Schwartzel.

He highlights a few notable situations of product placement: In the 2014 film Transformers: Age of Extinction, Mark Wahlberg’s character withdraws money from a China Construction Bank ATM — while in Texas. In another scene from the same film, a character buys Chinese protein powder at a Chicago convenience store.

And just 10 days after its release, Age of Extinction became the highest grossing film of all time in China. The movie has since been overtaken at the box office by a string of other blockbusters, but Schwartzel says its influence lingers.

Find the full article through this link.