The "Top Gun" sequel, "Top Gun: Maverick," has raised questions about the removal of Japanese and Taiwanese flags on actor Tom Cruise's famed jacket, The Japan Times reported.
Cruise's jacket, worn by his character Maverick, had shown those flags in the 1980s "Top Gun," but the 2019 sequel replaces them as the movie is co-produced by Paramount Pictures and Chinese company Tencent, which both declined comment, per the report.
The change was noted by The Globe and Mail correspondent Mark MacKinnon, who tweeted then and now photos of the jacket:
"There's a new Top Gun movie coming out. And Maverick is wearing the same leather jacket - only this time it's Communist Party of China-approved, so the Japanese and Taiwanese flag patches are gone (screenshot on right is from the new trailer)..."
The Times noted China is approaching becoming the world's No. 1 film market.
China has long had territory battles with Japan and a dispute over control of Tawain.
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