A new Chinese spy drama, “Long Watch” (also known as Jiaofeng), is drawing major attention across the Taiwan Strait after its premiere on 6 September. The series centers on a double agent whose mission for China collides with Taiwan-linked intelligence operations, including a storyline where the agent is poisoned after being discovered.
Multiple outlets report that the show’s plot draws on references to real-life crises and depicts the evolution of tensions between China and Taiwan, a topic that is rarely addressed so directly in mainstream television. In Taiwan, the series is widely dismissed by some viewers as propaganda, while others point to the drama’s popularity and its extensive use of recognizable political and security themes.
Outlets also describe the production as being co-produced with China’s Ministry of State Security, which adds to concerns about official influence on the narrative. At the same time, the series is framed by some as a dramatic work that fictionalizes events rather than reporting them. The debate therefore focuses on intent and impact, with attention both on the storyline and on the role of state-linked production.
