“Zero Day Attack,” the series that scares the Taiwanese

Zero Day Attack unfolds the scenario of a nightmare that increasingly haunts the Taiwanese: after a Chinese fighter jet disappears off the coast of Taiwan, the Chinese military launches a search and rescue operation, deploying a large number of ships and aircraft that blockade the island. Taiwan enters a state of war and panic grips the streets of Taipei, the capital.

The first episode of the ten-part series aired on Taiwanese television on August 2. There are no plans to broadcast the series abroad outside of Japan.

Each episode is directed by a different director. Specifically, Zero Day Attack explores the political, economic, and human stakes that intertwine during the seven days leading up to a fictional invasion of Taiwan by Beijing. It imagines the divisions and contradictions that shake Taiwan in the face of imminent war.

The storyline of Zero Day Attack covers themes such as the terrorist threat, communist infiltration, cyber warfare, democratic change (the plot begins on the day of a tense presidential election marked by violence), the role of religious organizations, and risks.