Taiwan’s president has announced that military service will be extended from four months to one year. According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the new conscription will take effect in 2024 and conscripts will undergo more intensive training.
The intention is for the conscripts to be deployed to guard important infrastructure so that the regular military can respond more quickly to a possible invasion of China. The announcement follows reports that 71 Chinese warplanes and drones have entered Taiwanese airspace.
Professional Army
Since 2013, Taiwanese men over the age of 18 have been required to do four months of military service, with the first five weeks in a boot camp. Recruits must now complete an eight-week basic training course. As Taiwan has gradually transitioned from a conscript to a professional military, China’s growing assertiveness and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have fueled debates about how to further strengthen Taiwan’s defenses.
Deterrence
Previous Taiwanese governments cut conscription for men over two years to four months to accommodate younger voters. Taiwan has stepped up its preparations following a visit by US President Nancy Pelosi in August. China then immediately held military exercises around Taiwan in response.
Earlier this month, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu called China’s military threat “greater than ever” in an interview with The Guardian. Since 2020, the number of violations of Taiwanese airspace by Chinese aircraft has increased fivefold. According to Wu, the exercises following Pelosi’s visit were also intended to discourage other governments.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
