China State Security Ministry Produces Espionage Drama 'The Long Watch'

The Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China co-produced a 40-episode spy drama titled 'The Long Watch' (Jiaofeng), which premiered on September 6. The series depicts intelligence operations and espionage between China and Taiwan beginning in the mid-1990s, portraying Chinese state security officers as heroes defending the nation against infiltration.

The show became a significant hit in China, topping prime-time ratings on China Central Television five times during its first week and surpassing 50 million online views. While producers claim the narrative is based on interviews with retired officers and 27 declassified case files, critics and historians describe the series as a tool to promote patriotism through a state-sanctioned historical narrative.

The drama has had minimal impact in Taiwan, where analysts and viewers largely view the content as propaganda. In a commentary regarding the show, the state-run Global Times characterized cross-strait espionage as a hidden front.