“The Asylum” Sitcom Premieres, Marking a New Cultural Endeavor by the China Democracy Party
By Chen Ende | Edited by Luo Zhifei & Lu Huiwen Translator: Lu Huiwen
The China Democracy Party National Committee’s Los Angeles branch has officially launched production of its original 100-episode sitcom The Asylum, with the premiere episode “Welcome to the Asylum” now available online. I am the director of the show. This is a short-form political satire blending dark humor, absurdism, and metaphorical realism, set within a fictional mental asylum—an allegorical space mirroring the closed nature of Chinese society. Through the interactions between patients and staff, power holders and the awakened, the show gradually unveils the underlying social archetypes and systemic critiques embedded in each character.
Unlike traditional protests or street demonstrations, The Asylum offers a rare example of pro-democracy cultural expression in recent years. Written, directed, and acted entirely by participants in the democracy movement, the series balances personal reflection with public outreach. It not only allows individual voices to emerge but also aims to stir emotional resonance and awareness among viewers through artistic storytelling.
The main cast includes:
• Li Jingwei as “Xi Jinping” • Sun Xiaolong as “Xi Wawa” • Huang Xiaomin as “Minmin” • Luo Zhifei as “Jianguo” • Li Xiaoyan as “Honghong” • Zheng Min as “Yuanyuan” • Lu Huiwen as “Meili”
Lu Xinhu serves as stage manager and prop master, while Sun Xiaolong also works as production coordinator.
Huang Xiaomin (second from right) said:
“Minmin is just an ordinary person labeled insane and thrown into the asylum for ‘speaking the truth.’ She has no background or privilege but dares to question, to speak out, to resist. She represents the countless Chinese citizens who have been oppressed for standing up for justice.”
Luo Zhifei (far left) shared:
“Playing Jianguo was like revisiting my past. He’s a privileged ‘Red Third Generation’ who ends up in the asylum simply for telling the truth—an ‘insider madman.’ I, too, once tried to expose corruption from within the system and was warned: ‘If you don’t shut up, we’ll throw you in a psychiatric ward.’”
Sun Xiaolong (second from left) commented:
“‘Xi Wawa’ is a bootlicking bureaucrat who rose through nepotism—slick-tongued and spineless, terrified of his wife. He shows us that the real danger isn’t an individual going mad, but an entire system that forces you to act insane—and rewards you for doing it convincingly.”
Lu Xinhu (far right) said:
The Asylum is a reflection of China’s current reality. The Communist Party throws dissidents into prison, into psychiatric hospitals. They’ve done it before, they’re doing it now, and they’ll keep doing it.
Li Jingwei (third from right) added:
“In The Asylum, ‘Xi Jinping’ is the director of the institution. Through dark humor, the show exposes how authoritarian regimes suppress free speech and brutally silence those who speak the truth, fight for democracy, or demand freedom. Labeling people as ‘mentally ill’ is just one method—illegal detention and torture serve the same silencing purpose. Without freedom of expression, no other human rights can truly exist.”
As the show’s writer, cinematographer, and editor, I (also pictured third from right) can say we’ve tentatively set 100 episodes as the goal—but we’re aiming for 300, or even more. As long as the CCP exists, we’ll keep creating. This series is our unique way of exposing the brutal nature of CCP rule. While we aim to make people laugh, we also hope this artistic expression awakens more Chinese citizens.
The Asylum is not about shouting slogans or rallying in the streets. We’ve chosen theater as our form of protest—to question reality, to take a stand. This approach may not be fast or fierce, but it leaves something lasting. It touches hearts. Beyond speeches and marches, we want to open another path—using storytelling to help more people understand, resonate, and ultimately awaken.
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Chen Ende
Member of the China Democracy Party Director, writer, cinematographer, and editor of The Asylum June 18, 2025 – Los Angeles
