Cheng Zhi
Encyclopedia
Cheng Zhi is a fictional character
played by Tzi Ma
on the television series 24
. He is a Chinese
official and an enemy of Jack Bauer
. At the end of Day 6, Bauer badly scars Cheng during an assault and captures him.
refused to make a rash decision and informs the United States Government that it will be "2 to 3 hours" before the Chinese comes to a decision. However, because a nuclear warhead could detonate at any second, David Palmer was unwilling to wait for China's response and allows Jack Bauer to lead a team in a covert raid on the consulate. The raid goes awry, however, as Lee is wounded and the Consul is killed, though Bauer succeeds in acquiring Lee. Immediately after, the U.S. government attempts to shift blame for the raid to radical Chinese groups.
Cheng views the situation as a violation of the honor of Chinese sovereignty. Dissatisfied with the explanation provided by CTU, Cheng launches his own investigation into the attack. Based on consulate video, he captures a member of Jack's strike team, who implicates Jack Bauer as the strike team's leader. Cheng then demands that President Charles Logan
hand Jack over to stand trial in China. Logan's head of security Walt Cummings, concerned about a government agent with Jack's knowledge falling into Chinese hands, secretly arranges for Jack's elimination (with Logan's unspoken approval), prompting Jack to fake his death.
working for the United States, but did not know which one was the spy. Despite continued torture, Jack does not divulge the information.
One night, two Americans rescue Jack from his cell and transport him to a rendezvous point, where Hong Wai is waiting. It turns out the "rescue" has been staged by Cheng himself and Bauer's recognition has exposed Hong, whom Cheng immediately shoots and kills. Cheng then orders his men to take Bauer back to his cell, and promised to wire the two Americans their money.
When the nuclear crisis was resolved Cheng resurfaced and is seen holding Audrey Raines
, who was earlier believed to be deceased. Jack tells Cheng that he cannot get near the component, however Cheng tells him that he will "find a way." Jack is arrested while trying to obtain the component, however gets the blessing of the President after speaking to him. He assures President Wayne Palmer
that he will destroy the device after learning that Audrey is safe. As Jack is on his way to Cheng with the component, Vice President Noah Daniels shoots down the mission because he is now in power after the latest health situation of Palmer. Jack is able to get Mike Doyle out of the car at gunpoint, and leaves to meet Cheng and Audrey.
When Cheng dictates the meeting point for the exchange, Jack refuses. They settle on a neutral area. When Cheng arrives, Jack exchanges the component for Audrey. He tells her to walk 100 yards past the bridge, which is visible from the building. As Audrey is walking, Doyle and other CTU agents engage in a fire fight. At this time, Cheng escapes with the component. At the end of the episode, it is revealed that Audrey has somehow been brainwashed by the Chinese.
When Cheng attempts to gain information from the component, access is denied. He needs to pass through the override, but needs the help of CTU. He sends a man named Zhou and his team on a mission to CTU, which claims the life of Milo Pressman
, in order to retrieve Jack's nephew, Josh Bauer, for Jack's father, Phillip Bauer. In exchange, the elder Bauer is fixing the sub-circuit board for Cheng.
The plan does not go as he expected though. Jack Bauer and a CTU tactical team surprise Cheng and his men as they leave to meet Phillip Bauer. During the exchange, most of Cheng's men were killed and he himself was nearly captured by Jack. Cheng is only able to escape because Jack chose to rescue Josh instead of going after him.
Not long after, Phillip is furious to find out what happened. He refuses to give the circuit board back to Cheng. The two get into a verbal argument. In the end, they threaten each other and Phillip is trying to give the board to the United States Government in exchange for his grandson.
In the season finale, Cheng has resumed a working relationship with Phillip. Cheng arranges for a Chinese submarine to retrieve Phillip and Josh from the abandoned oil rig where they had set up a base. However, before they can do so, an airstrike
destroys the platform. Phillip is presumably killed, the circuit board is destroyed, and Cheng is taken into custody. As of the end of the finale, Cheng is told that he will be transferred into federal custody. Cheng merely replies, "My people will not abandon me like you abandoned Jack Bauer
." Cheng is never seen or heard of again throughout the rest of the series.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
played by Tzi Ma
Tzi Ma
Tzi Ma is a Chinese American actor who has made numerous appearances in American films and TV series.-Life and career:Ma was born in Hong Kong...
on the television series 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
. He is a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
official and an enemy of Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer is the main protagonist of the American television series 24. His character has worked in various capacities on the show, often as a member of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit based in Los Angeles, and working with the FBI in Washington, D.C...
. At the end of Day 6, Bauer badly scars Cheng during an assault and captures him.
24: Season 4
During Day 4, Cheng is a director of security for the Los Angeles Chinese Consulate building. Lee Jong, a Chinese scientist working for Habib Marwan, takes refuge in the facility, having been warned by Marwan that CTU would be looking for him; he also fears that Marwan would attempt to kill him to prevent him from revealing any information to CTU. CTU initially attempts to convince the Consulate officials to turn Lee over through diplomatic channels. Though the Consul sympathizes with their situation, the Chinese GovernmentGovernment of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
refused to make a rash decision and informs the United States Government that it will be "2 to 3 hours" before the Chinese comes to a decision. However, because a nuclear warhead could detonate at any second, David Palmer was unwilling to wait for China's response and allows Jack Bauer to lead a team in a covert raid on the consulate. The raid goes awry, however, as Lee is wounded and the Consul is killed, though Bauer succeeds in acquiring Lee. Immediately after, the U.S. government attempts to shift blame for the raid to radical Chinese groups.
Cheng views the situation as a violation of the honor of Chinese sovereignty. Dissatisfied with the explanation provided by CTU, Cheng launches his own investigation into the attack. Based on consulate video, he captures a member of Jack's strike team, who implicates Jack Bauer as the strike team's leader. Cheng then demands that President Charles Logan
Charles Logan (24 character)
Charles Logan is a fictional character played by Gregory Itzin in the television series 24. During the show's fourth season, Logan is the Vice President of the United States who is sworn into office as President of the United States when former President John Keeler is critically injured in a...
hand Jack over to stand trial in China. Logan's head of security Walt Cummings, concerned about a government agent with Jack's knowledge falling into Chinese hands, secretly arranges for Jack's elimination (with Logan's unspoken approval), prompting Jack to fake his death.
24: Season 5
18 months later, Cheng discovers that Jack is still alive (it is implied in Season 6 that Graem Bauer informed them), and the fifth season ends with Cheng orchestrating Jack's abduction. As they head back on a container ship to China, Jack begs Cheng to kill him. Cheng, however, tells Jack that he is "too valuable to kill".Season 6 Prequel
As depicted in the Day 6 prequel, the Chinese proceed to interrogate and torture Jack for the next seven months under Cheng's supervision. The Chinese are aware that one of two men working in their government, Lee or Hong, is a spySPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
working for the United States, but did not know which one was the spy. Despite continued torture, Jack does not divulge the information.
One night, two Americans rescue Jack from his cell and transport him to a rendezvous point, where Hong Wai is waiting. It turns out the "rescue" has been staged by Cheng himself and Bauer's recognition has exposed Hong, whom Cheng immediately shoots and kills. Cheng then orders his men to take Bauer back to his cell, and promised to wire the two Americans their money.
24: Season 6
Cheng Zhi returns with Jack to Los Angeles, where he gives Jack back to CTU. Cheng says Jack had not spoken a word in two years. In response, Jack flashes Cheng an angry defiant look.When the nuclear crisis was resolved Cheng resurfaced and is seen holding Audrey Raines
Audrey Raines
Audrey Louise Raines is a fictional character played by actress Kim Raver on the television show 24.-Characterization:Audrey was born in either Albany, New York or Providence, Rhode Island . Her mother died when she was nine...
, who was earlier believed to be deceased. Jack tells Cheng that he cannot get near the component, however Cheng tells him that he will "find a way." Jack is arrested while trying to obtain the component, however gets the blessing of the President after speaking to him. He assures President Wayne Palmer
Wayne Palmer
Wayne Palmer is a fictional President of the United States on the television series 24. He is played by D. B. Woodside.-Characterization:...
that he will destroy the device after learning that Audrey is safe. As Jack is on his way to Cheng with the component, Vice President Noah Daniels shoots down the mission because he is now in power after the latest health situation of Palmer. Jack is able to get Mike Doyle out of the car at gunpoint, and leaves to meet Cheng and Audrey.
When Cheng dictates the meeting point for the exchange, Jack refuses. They settle on a neutral area. When Cheng arrives, Jack exchanges the component for Audrey. He tells her to walk 100 yards past the bridge, which is visible from the building. As Audrey is walking, Doyle and other CTU agents engage in a fire fight. At this time, Cheng escapes with the component. At the end of the episode, it is revealed that Audrey has somehow been brainwashed by the Chinese.
When Cheng attempts to gain information from the component, access is denied. He needs to pass through the override, but needs the help of CTU. He sends a man named Zhou and his team on a mission to CTU, which claims the life of Milo Pressman
Milo Pressman
Milo Pressman is a fictional character played by Eric Balfour on the show 24.During the events of Day 6, Milo works as the Internet Protocol Manager of the Los Angeles CTU Domestic Unit.-Characterization:Milo Pressman was born in 1978...
, in order to retrieve Jack's nephew, Josh Bauer, for Jack's father, Phillip Bauer. In exchange, the elder Bauer is fixing the sub-circuit board for Cheng.
The plan does not go as he expected though. Jack Bauer and a CTU tactical team surprise Cheng and his men as they leave to meet Phillip Bauer. During the exchange, most of Cheng's men were killed and he himself was nearly captured by Jack. Cheng is only able to escape because Jack chose to rescue Josh instead of going after him.
Not long after, Phillip is furious to find out what happened. He refuses to give the circuit board back to Cheng. The two get into a verbal argument. In the end, they threaten each other and Phillip is trying to give the board to the United States Government in exchange for his grandson.
In the season finale, Cheng has resumed a working relationship with Phillip. Cheng arranges for a Chinese submarine to retrieve Phillip and Josh from the abandoned oil rig where they had set up a base. However, before they can do so, an airstrike
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
destroys the platform. Phillip is presumably killed, the circuit board is destroyed, and Cheng is taken into custody. As of the end of the finale, Cheng is told that he will be transferred into federal custody. Cheng merely replies, "My people will not abandon me like you abandoned Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer is the main protagonist of the American television series 24. His character has worked in various capacities on the show, often as a member of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit based in Los Angeles, and working with the FBI in Washington, D.C...
." Cheng is never seen or heard of again throughout the rest of the series.