207 Global News Post 1

The article written by Jake Chung and published in the Taipei Times on Dec. 28, 2022 reports on the decision made by Taiwan’s government to extend mandatory military service from four months to one year for all Taiwanese men born after Jan. 1, 2005. Mandatory military service has been apart of Taiwanese law ever since the government fled Mainland China, but has varied in length ever since. This increase in required service duration reflects rising tensions between China and Taiwan, and serves to provide deterrence as well as an increase in real self-defense capability. The four month service requirement had been in place since 2013, and will officially change in 2024.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who announced the policy change at the end of 2022, is a stout advocate for the protection of Taiwan’s democracy and freedom. She stated that the decision to extend mandatory service was an “inevitable responsibility”, reflecting the objective threat that Taiwan faces. There is no doubt Taiwan has watched the Ukraine situation carefully, and it seems that in the event of invasion, Taiwan is similarly prepared to make no compromises for their freedom.

With such a drastic change, the public certainly has doubts and misconceptions, which Tsai aimed to address by assuring that “the training regimen has undergone drastic changes” and “to ensure conscripts undergo appropriate training and do not waste time during the longer service period, they would undergo more intense and longer boot camp training”.

Perhaps most concerning is the effects that one year of mandatory military service will have on young Taiwanese men, many of whom will be trying to finish school and start their careers. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has thus been involved in the implementation of this new policy with a focus on flexibility and avoiding disruption of the job search process. Only after being set in motion in 2024 will it be clear what other challenges and criticisms await this policy change.

Chung, J. (2022, December 28). Tsai reinstates one-year conscription. Taipei Times (Taiwan). Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/18EB05402E59B518.

Chiu, K. (2021). [Photograph of Taiwanese soldiers]. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/taiwan-will-not-capitulate-to-china-defense-military-army-pla-invasion-indo-pacific-11636056020