State broadcaster CCTV has begun airing a 40-episode television series titled 'The Long Watch,' which focuses on counter-espionage efforts between mainland China and Taiwan. The production is notable for its direct involvement with the Ministry of State Security, China’s primary intelligence agency, which oversaw the project.

While spy dramas are a common genre in Chinese television, this series is distinct for its focus on contemporary intelligence battles across the Taiwan Strait. Most previous mainland productions have avoided depicting modern espionage involving Taiwan, opting instead for historical or less sensitive subject matter. The series covers a two-decade timeline, spanning from 1998 to 2018, a period marked by fluctuating political tensions and intelligence activity between the two sides.

According to reports, the series aims to highlight 'real-life' cases, framing the narrative within the context of national security. By involving the Ministry of State Security in the production, the show serves as a rare public-facing project for an agency that typically operates in extreme secrecy. Analysts suggest the release of the series reflects a broader effort by Beijing to emphasize the ongoing nature of the intelligence conflict with Taiwan to a domestic audience. The series is currently being broadcast on state-run television, marking a shift in how the state chooses to communicate its counter-espionage activities to the public.