Taiwanese TV Series 'Zero Day' Depicting Hypothetical Chinese Invasion Sparks Debate: 'Threat Is Not Something New, But We Have Been Avoiding Talking About It'

A Taiwanese TV series, “Zero Day,” has stirred up intense discussions and emotional reactions on the island. The series, which showcases a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan, was released this week, aligning with the annual air raid drills.

What Happened: The series, partly funded by the Taiwanese government, portrays a fictional Chinese military invasion of Taiwan. The nearly 18-minute trailer depicts the People's Liberation Army staging a naval blockade of Taiwan under the pretense of a search and rescue mission, along with cyberattacks and sabotage activities, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

The series is expected to air next year. The producer of the series, Cheng Shin-mei, stated, "The threat is not something new, but we have been avoiding talking about it due to its sensitivity."

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The series is funded by Taiwan's cultural ministry and Robert Tsao, founder and former chairman of United Microelectronics Corporation, Taiwan's second-largest contract chipmaker. Tsao, a strong advocate of better defense, pledged NT$1 billion in 2022 to help train 3 million civilian soldiers.

Why It Matters: The series comes amid escalating tensions between China and Taiwan. China, which considers Taiwan its territory, has strongly opposed the U.S.’s continued arms sales to Taiwan, leading to a suspension of talks on arms control and nuclear proliferation.

Earlier, the U.S. and China had reportedly engaged in their first informal nuclear talks in five years, with the Taiwan issue at the forefront. This was followed by a warning from a U.S. lawmaker that the House Foreign Affairs Committee has the authority to declare war on China in case of an unprovoked attack on Taiwan. These developments have significantly raised tensions in the region.

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari