Christian Bale in China

Christian Bale arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011. He defended the upcoming Nanjing Massacre film by China's most famous director, Zhang Yimou, as more than an anti-Japanese propaganda movie.

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Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Oscar-winning actor Christian Bale arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011. In the movie, Bale plays an American drifter who becomes the unwitting protector of a group of Chinese schoolgirls and prostitutes trying to escape the Japanese army's brutal sacking of China's wartime capital.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Chinese fans hold pictures of British actor Christian Bale as they wait for him to show up at a red carpet event of Zhang Yimou's new movie "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, Dec. 12, 2011.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Christian Bale arrives on the red carpet with his wife Sibi for the screening of the film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011.

Three days later, the "Batman" star, in the midst of promoting a the film, was physically stopped by government-backed guards from visiting activist Chen Guangcheng, who lives under house arrest.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Chinese actresses arrive on the red carpet for the screening of their film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Christian Bale arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011. Bale plays an American drifter who becomes the unwitting protector of a group of Chinese schoolgirls and prostitutes trying to escape the Japanese army's brutal sacking of China's wartime capital.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

British actor Christian Bale walks past Chinese fans holding a poster of him as he arrives at the Zhang Yimou-directed new movie "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, Dec. 12, 2011.

Three days later, the "Batman" star, in the midst of promoting a the film, was physically stopped by government-backed guards from visiting activist Chen Guangcheng, who lives under house arrest.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Fans of Oscar-winning actor Christian Bale wait as he arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Chinese actresses arrive on the red carpet for the screening of their film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Christian Bale arrives on the red carpet with his wife Sibi for the screening of the film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

China's most famous director, Zhang Yimou, arrives on the red carpet for the screening of his film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011. Christian Bale defended the upcoming Nanjing Massacre film as more than an anti-Japanese propaganda film.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China

Christian Bale arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "The Flowers of War" in Beijing, China, on Dec. 12, 2011.

Pictures: Christian Bale
Read more: Christian Bale roughed up in China