By Aarav Mahendru

As Xi ramps up air and naval militarization in the South China Sea, some are getting worried, but others are taking action—among them is the director of Zero Day, Lo Ging-zim. The 10-part show will be the first dramatic interpretation of a looming invasion by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This exciting venture has caused other writers and directors to refuse to help create this due to the potential global investment scares and other consequences; but that does not scare Hsin-mei Chen. Chen is th e mastermind behind Zero Day, organizing a team of 10 directors, including Lo, to create one of the most important TV Shows in Taiwanese history.

Zero Day made its 17-minute world trailer premiere during an air raid drill organized by Taiwan. It follows a naval blockade, which then creates panic as high-ranking officials and foreign nationals evacuate; the chaos ensues with hacked television networks broadcasting enemy propaganda. This hit home for many, as an audience member says: “I almost burst into tears when I watched it. Every scene in those 17 minutes felt so close to us. Maybe one day in the future, these scenarios will become the reality around us.” Those who watched it live were in a theater, but the siren allowed them to immerse into the show as if they were a part of it…showing the world the impact that a show can make on individuals. 

Zero Day and Lo are taking a stance. He claims that “if we don’t make that fear tangible, if we don’t turn it into drama, we’re going to have a hard time getting people to start a dialogue quickly.” The trailer received considerable support globally as it surpassed a million hits on YouTube. Many of the 23.5 million people living in Taiwan have gotten used to the threats made by Xi, but this could hurt realizing the full severity of the conflict. Chen and Lo hope to overcome this obstacle.

“For me, the war has already begun in Taiwan,” said Chen. “It is not being fought through guns and cannons, but through information and infiltration. It’s permeating our daily lives.” This is Taiwan’s response. 

The show has also drawn much criticism from the opposition. Politicians were quick to say that the panic was exaggerated and simply not true. Those who doubt the show’s credibility may be in for a rude awakening, however. In November 1983, a movie called “The Day After”, depicted the consequences of a nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union. This shook Americans awake to the realities of conflict between two global powers. Following this rude awakening, President Reagan began to rethink his foreign policy against the Soviets. Perhaps Zero Day could have the same effects on Taiwan and China, changing how they perceive the war and advocating for a peaceful world!

Cites

1] Gan, Nectar, and Eric Cheung. “Taiwan Is Making a TV Show about a Chinese Invasion. And It’s Hitting close to Home.” CNN, CNN, 5 Aug. 2024,

www.cnn.com/2024/08/04/asia/taiwan-tv-series-zero-day-chinese-invasion-intl-hnk/index.html. Accessed 10 Aug. 2024.

2] Stilwell, Blake. ““Zero Day”: New 10-Part Series Imagines What a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Might Actually Look Like.” Military.com, 9 Aug. 2024, www.military.com/off-duty/television/2024/08/08/zero-day-new-10-part-series-imagines-what-chinese-invasion-of-taiwan-might-actually-look.html. Accessed 10 Aug. 2024.

3] ‌Davidson, Helen. ““Firing a Loud Shot”: Taiwan TV Show Zero Day Aims to Spark Debate over Potential China Invasion.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 4 Aug. 2024, www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/04/firing-a-loud-shot-taiwan-tv-show-zero-day-aims-to-spark-debate-over-potential-china-invasion. Accessed 10 Aug. 2024.

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