A new Taiwanese television series that imagines the run-up to a Chinese invasion is getting rave reviews from viewers, who said the first programme featuring the sensitive topic is a wake-up call for the public facing heightened Chinese military threat.

Some actors and directors reportedly dropped out of the production out of concern they'd offend China, a 1.4 billion-strong market for Taiwanese stars.

Taiwan, a small island off China’s southeastern coast, has become one of the world’s most critical geopolitical flashpoints. Though modest in size, its strategic importance is immense, placing it at the center of rising tensions between China and the United States.