The on-screen chaos is the basis of a new Taiwanese television series called “Zero Day”, which creators hope will “awaken” people to the real-life threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
But rather than dramatise the cross-strait tensions, Taiwan's film and television industry has shied away from the topic for fear of losing access to the world's biggest Chinese language market.
“Media around the world were talking about the next battlefield could be the Taiwan Strait,“ Lo told AFP, recalling 2022 when the idea for “Zero Day” emerged.
“Zero Day”, which refers to the first day Chinese troops land in Taiwan, features 10 standalone episodes and is expected to premiere this year.
Chinese disinformation floods Taiwan's internet, cash machines stop working, stock markets crash and families dragging suitcases seek to escape.
'Looming threat of war'
Taiwan would be outgunned in any conflict with China and would need the United States and other countries to come to its defence.
She also hoped to inform the international community that Taiwan was not part of China.
“So when the regime launches an independent act of aggression, it is not a civil war, it is an invasion.”
Cheng said 70 percent of those approached for the series declined to take part, worried they would be blocked from productions hoping to enter China.
Chuang believes his involvement in “Zero Day” has already cost him one role, but he firmly insists the series “needed to be made”.
“It only comes from constant vigilance, making ourselves stronger, identity with our country and land, and unity among people living here.”
To make “Zero Day” more realistic, creators consulted military and political experts and shot key scenes on site, including a Taiwanese naval vessel and the Presidential Office in Taipei.
“It inevitably leads to speculation about whether the filming perspective and thinking behind this series are related to the ruling party’s political agenda,“ Lin told AFP, referring to the Democratic Progressive Party.
“We are not making a political propaganda film, nor is it some kind of informational or civil defence educational video -- it’s none of those,“ Lo said.
Cheng, the producer, said there had been strong international interest in the series and the team was now in talks with several online streaming platforms and television networks around the world.
“It’s also a way to prove that even without access to the Chinese market, Taiwanese drama can still break into other regions,“ she said.
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