A new Chinese spy drama co-produced by the Ministry of State Security titled The Long Watch, or Jiaofeng in Chinese, has emerged as a prime-time television hit since its premiere on September 6. The 40-episode series chronicles two decades of cross-strait espionage, intelligence operations, and double agents operating between China and Taiwan from the mid-1990s, blending real-world locations like Taipei with fictional characters.
How The Long Watch Dramatizes Cross-Strait Espionage
The series opens in 1994 with a newsreader’s voice playing over a cityscape in China addressing remarks by then-Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui regarding separatist sentiment, setting a tense political stage. According to writers of the series, development of the script involved interviewing retired state-security officers and reviewing 27 case files. The narrative portrays Chinese state security personnel defending the country against infiltration while depicting Taiwan’s intelligence services attempting to turn mainland officials into agents.
Viewers on platforms like Weibo have called the production unusually bold for directly addressing political figures and espionage operations, though analysts emphasize the difficulty in verifying how closely the fiction aligns with actual historical events. According to Maoyan figures, the show surpassed 50 million online views within its first week and topped prime-time ratings on China Central Television five times.
Propaganda Objectives and Historical Narratives in Chinese Media
Chinese state-run outlets, including the Global Times, have described cross-strait espionage as a hidden front that will persist until complete reunification is achieved. According to Li Fu-chung, a historian at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University whose research includes film history and Chinese Communist party history, these productions allow authorities to craft a distinct historical narrative while emphasizing patriotism through contrasting positive and negative characters.
Li notes that dramatic formats can easily influence audiences both on the mainland and potentially in Taiwan. However, the series has generated minimal discussion in Taiwan, where it is accessible via platforms like Tencent Video and YouTube. Last year, Taiwan’s own government-subsidized drama, Zero Day Attack, focused on potential invasion scenarios and performed strongly among domestic viewers.
Public Reception and Context in Taiwan
Reactions among Taiwanese citizens indicate limited engagement with the mainland production. Annie Hsieh, a 26-year-old postgraduate student, stated she had never heard of the series and expressed skepticism about its narrative framing. Another graduate, Liang Tian-jun, remarked that romance dramas hold more popularity among his peers and that watching such series would not alter perceptions of China.
According to Li, while open societies remain susceptible to cross-strait messaging, most Taiwanese view the show strictly as propaganda. Recent polling data from last month indicates that only 7.4 percent of respondents in Taiwan hold a favorable view of the Chinese Communist party, marking a decline from July figures.
Did you know? The Long Watch is not the first state-backed security drama to draw on cross-strait relations; last year’s Silent Honor similarly drew on intelligence operations from the end of the Chinese civil war under the guidance of the Ministry of State Security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Long Watch or Jiaofeng about?
The 40-episode Chinese television drama follows two decades of espionage, double agents, and intelligence operations between China and Taiwan from the mid-1990s, casting state security officers as defenders against infiltration.
Who produced the series?
The drama was co-produced by China’s Ministry of State Security and draws upon what writers describe as 27 case files and interviews with retired officers.
How has the series been received in Taiwan?
According to local observers, the drama has generated virtually no public discussion in Taiwan, where citizens largely view it as state propaganda amidst favorability ratings toward the Chinese Communist party.
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