Supporters of the “independent course” with placards “Taiwan is not China” welcome Nancy Pelosi, Taipei. Photo: Reuters.
This weekend, on the boulevard in front of the presidential palace in Taipei, Taiwan’s worst nightmare was being enacted before film crews—a scenario in which China invades the island. Actors and extras depicted one possible outcome of such chaos: a protest escalating into violence and bloodshed.
This scene was part of the filming for “Zero Day,” a new Taiwanese television drama series that explores a Chinese attempt to seize control of the democratically governed island. Beijing has long claimed Taiwan as its territory and has urged the island to peacefully accept China’s sovereignty. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that he would not rule out the use of force to absorb Taiwan.
Although “Zero Day” is not set to air until next year, the series has already sparked heated debates in Taiwan following the release of its trailer. Supporters argue that it could foster necessary discussions about the threat posed by China. However, critics, primarily from the pro-China opposition, have accused the project of spreading fear and being a tool for government propaganda, The New York Times reported.
Critics of the series argue that it serves as a virtual election advertisement for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which rejects Beijing’s claims over Taiwan. They point out that the series received state funding and that the producers were granted access to military bases and the presidential palace for filming.
Jaw Shaw-kong, a prominent KMT (Kuomintang) politician and the party’s vice-presidential candidate in January’s election, is one of the most vocal critics of the series. He accuses the government of using state power for pro-DPP propaganda and describes the series as “equivalent to an election ad.”
Lo Ging-zim, one of the directors of “Zero Day,” counters that it is not unusual for film and television productions, including comedies or horror movies, to receive grants from the Taiwanese government. He assures that the government did not attempt to influence the artistic direction of the series. Lo also notes that his decision to direct an episode of the series was influenced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which he believes could serve as a potential model for Chinese actions against Taiwan.
“Zero Day” aims to depict how ordinary island residents might experience a potential Chinese invasion and how they could be bombarded by a wave of disinformation spread by pro-Chinese channels on social media.
In recent years, China has dramatically escalated its aggressive rhetoric towards Taiwan, with threats intensifying, including last week’s claim that it is “more capable than ever” of completing the “reunification” of the island.
