A Chinese invasion of Taiwan and the internal contradictions it could trigger are depicted in a 17-minute-long trailer of Zero Day, an upcoming Taiwanese television series. The story concept appears to resonate with people because it reveals the real situation in Taiwan and signs of division.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) figures said the show’s premise made it a form of brainwashing, while the United Daily News said the show was “forcing the public into a war.”
To evoke such a huge reaction, the series probably presents a full picture of China’s military threat, and the possible danger and challenge brought by it.
The most meaningful implication of the show is that the greatest danger is not an invasion, but that Taiwanese are not able to recognize the signs of a crisis and guard against the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) political infiltration.
The greatest value of the drama would be to raise the sense of crisis among Taiwanese and unveil the CCP’s use of infiltration tactics.
Being vigilant in peacetime means preparing for danger. Lacking a sense of crisis puts a country in a situation where it might defeat itself.
To avoid a war, people must know the enemy. A nation thrives in calamity and perishes in soft living.
Describing the show as war-provoking gives the CCP cover for its ambition to wage war on Taiwan and portrays the government as a troublemaker.
Chen Chi-nung is a political commentator.
Translated by Fion Khan
Recently, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) hastily pushed amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) through the Legislative Yuan, sparking widespread public concern. The legislative process was marked by opaque decisionmaking and expedited proceedings, raising alarms about its potential impact on the economy, national defense, and international standing. Those amendments prioritize short-term political gains at the expense of long-term national security and development. The amendments mandate that the central government transfer about NT$375.3 billion (US$11.47 billion) annually to local governments. While ostensibly aimed at enhancing local development, the lack
Having enjoyed contributing regular essays to the Liberty Times and Taipei Times now for several years, I feel it is time to pull back. As some of my readers know, I have enjoyed a decades-long relationship with Taiwan. My most recent visit was just a few months ago, when I was invited to deliver a keynote speech at a major conference in Taipei. Unfortunately, my trip intersected with Double Ten celebrations, so I missed the opportunity to call on friends in government, as well as colleagues in the new AIT building, that replaced the old Xin-yi Road complex. I have
Former US president Jimmy Carter’s legacy regarding Taiwan is a complex tapestry woven with decisions that, while controversial, were instrumental in shaping the nation’s path and its enduring relationship with the US. As the world reflects on Carter’s life and his recent passing at the age of 100, his presidency marked a transformative era in Taiwan-US-China relations, particularly through the landmark decision in 1978 to formally recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legal government of China, effectively derecognizing the Republic of China (ROC) based in Taiwan. That decision continues to influence geopolitical dynamics and Taiwan’s unique
Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) — who once endured the hardship of living under an authoritarian political system and arduously led a quiet revolution — once said: “Democratic issues must be solved with democratic means.” Today, as Taiwanese are faced with the malicious subversion of our country’s democratic constitutional order, we must not panic. Rather, we should start by taking democratic action to rescue the Constitutional Court. As Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) leads the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) in strangling Taiwan’s judiciary and depriving individuals of the right to recall and development, Taiwanese
RSS