The news agency Reuters has been in contact with four anonymised people with good insight.

They believe that Chinese authorities have told the country's major media houses not to watch the premiere of Disney's unsigned version of the film Mulan.

The censorship comes after foreign media reported on the criticism of Disney, and thus also drew attention to the retraining camps that are to be found in Xinjiang and where people from the minority group Uighurs have been held captive.

Purpose: to prevent the dissemination of information and criticism

The order must have been issued in writing to the media houses and not contain any reason for the ban.

But according to Reuters sources, the purpose is likely to be to prevent further dissemination of information about detention camps, or criticism of the Chinese regime.

Disney has had high hopes for Mulan in the large Chinese market, but the censorship means that the film, which cost 200 million dollars to produce, does not get any publicity in the country.

It risks being a severe economic blow, especially as the ongoing pandemic is already limiting the cinema audience.