Taiwan TV series depicting Beijing invasion sparks anxious debate...

TAIPEI - The trailer of a TV series portraying a Chinese attack on Taiwan has prompted a wave of emotional response and discussion on the self-ruled island that Beijing has vowed to make its own, by force if necessary. The nearly 18 minute-long trailer depicts a fictitious ploy by the People's Liberation Army to mount a naval blockade of Taiwan in the guise of a search-and-rescue mission. Security analysts generally see Taiwan as ill-prepared to deter or resist China, citing the island's shrinking military and number of voluntary soldiers. In a sign that it is serious about defending itself, Taiwan in 2022 announced an extension of its compulsory military service to one year from four months, effective in 2024. Funding for the 10-part series came from Taiwan's Culture Ministry and Mr Robert Tsao, founder and former chairman of United Microelectronics Corporation, Taiwan's second-largest contract chipmaker, according to a CNA report. Ms Cheng said her team is in talks with a major international streaming platform to release the series, hoping to draw more global attention to the threats Taiwan faces from China. The prospect of a cross-strait military conflict has been present for decades but rarely addressed bluntly in Taiwanese TV shows, partly due to the topic's sensitivity and commercial implications.