The presidential office says there’s no final decision on extending mandatory military service. The current conscription period is four months.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, there has been growing public support in Taiwan to extend the service to one year. The defense ministry has set up an office to look into this possible change.
Media reports say a new one-year conscription period will be implemented in 2024 for those born in 2006 and afterwards, but the presidential office and the defense ministry say a decision has not yet been made.
Presidential Office Spokesperson Xavier Chang says any change will take into consideration Taiwan’s plan to strengthen its asymmetric warfare abilities.