VIDEO: “Zero Day” TV Series Illustrates What A Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Could Look Like
Zero Day is a Taiwanese TV series that premiers May of 2025. Please watch the riveting 17 minute trailer below.
Yimou Lee, Angie Teo, and Fabian Hamacher had this to say for Reuters:
“We thought there is freedom in Taiwan but in film and TV production we are restricted by China on many levels,” said Cheng Hsin Mei, the showrunner on “Zero Day”…ㅤCheng said creators in free and democratic Taiwan, however, are indirectly confined by Beijing’s powerful state censorship…ㅤFor the “Zero Day” crew, confronting such a sensitive topic means facing difficulties, from funding and casting to finding places to film. Cheng said more than half of the “Zero Day” crew asked to remain anonymous on the crew list, and some people including a director pulled out of the production at the last minute, due to worries it might jeopardise their future work in China or concerns about the safety of their families working there. “Our freedom is hard-earned,” Cheng said, adding people should not give in easily due to fears over China. “The People’s Liberation Army has launched substantial incursions against us and they are getting closer and closer,” she said. “We should look at this directly rather than pretending that it is not happening.”ㅤThe drama focuses on several scenarios Taiwan might face in the days leading up to a Chinese attack, including a global financial collapse, the activation of Chinese sleeper agents and panicked residents trying to flee the island.ㅤ“Without freedom, Taiwan is not Taiwan,” the actor who plays a fictional Taiwan president says in a televised speech, urging unity after declaring war on China, in the show’s trailer. The live broadcast then gets abruptly cut off, replaced by a feed of a Chinese state television anchor calling for Taiwanese to surrender and to report “hidden pro-independence activists” to Chinese soldiers after their landing in Taiwan.ㅤMilton Lin, a 75-year-old Taipei resident, said he was grateful the TV series was putting a spotlight on the threats by China. “It helps Taiwanese to understand that we are facing a strong enemy trying to annex us and how we should be on guard with unity to face such an invasion.”
A short summary of the trailer (spoilers):
The 17-minute trailer for the upcoming Taiwanese TV series “Zero Day” offers a compelling portrayal of a hypothetical Chinese invasion of Taiwan, providing valuable insights. The story commences with the disappearance of a Chinese anti-submarine aircraft near Taiwan’s southern waters, an incident China leverages as a pretext to impose a comprehensive naval blockade around the island.
This blockade precipitates a cascade of destabilizing events:
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Economic Disruption: The blockade halts international shipping, leading to a stock market crash and widespread bank runs. The ensuing panic sees both citizens and foreigners scrambling to evacuate the island.
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Cyber and Psychological Warfare: Taiwan’s infrastructure suffers under coordinated cyberattacks, disrupting essential services like water, electricity, and communications. The populace faces a bombardment of disinformation from China. Social media influencers and other means aim to eroding public trust and morale. Chinese hackers infiltrate Taiwanese media, deploying AI-generated deepfakes of the Taiwanese president declaring war on China. This sows confusion and panic among the populace in the series.
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Internal Sabotage and Unrest: Chinese operatives and local collaborators orchestrate prison breaks, releasing convicts who, alongside armed fifth columnists and gang members, create internal chaos by blocking roads and disrupting civil order.
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Military Engagement: Amidst the turmoil, People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) commandos initiate assaults on strategic locations, including the outlying island of Kinmen, signaling the commencement of direct military actions.
The trailer perfectly illustrates the multifaceted nature of modern hybrid warfare. It blends conventional military tactics with cyber operations, psychological manipulation, and exploitation of societal vulnerabilities. “Zero Day” illustrates the diverse strategies that might be employed in a contemporary conflict scenario involving Taiwan and China.
By illustrating the potential rapid escalation from political tension to full-scale invasion, the series emphasizes the critical importance of preparedness, resilience, and resistance. The ability to counteract both physical and informational threats is vital in safeguarding national sovereignty.
