By 3 New online staff
Diplomatic tensions between China and Japan were reportedly to blame for Chinese actress Li Bingbing’s absence from the Tokyo premiere of Resident Evil: Retribution on Monday.
The two Asian countries are currently disputing ownership of a small group of islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Daioyu in China.
Li plays Ada Wong in Retribution, the fifth Resident Evil film based on the Japanese videogame franchise of the same name (Biohazard in Japan).
According to Li’s agent Ji Xiang, she did not attend the Tokyo premiere due to scheduling problems, but also because she was concerned with the island dispute.
“We’re taking the same position as our government,” Jing is quoted as saying on China.org.
“Bingbing will be attending movie premieres held in other places across the world and she skipped the Tokyo leg only."
Other reports claim Bingbing also wants to be edited out of Resident Evil: Retribution promotional posters displayed in Japan.
Li’s co-stars Milla Jovovich, Mika Nakashima, Ali Larter and Wentworth Miller thrilled fans at the Tokyo premiere on Monday.
Resident Evil: Retribution opens in New Zealand cinemas September 13.
3 News