Extending conscription may make Taiwan feel safer – but at the cost of alienating its young people | Brian Hioe
China is still regarded as a threat, although not an immediate one and Taiwan’s military faces an image problem
On Tuesday, less than two days after the largest deployment of Chinese military craft into Taiwanese airspace this year, Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, announced an extension of military conscription, lengthening the period for men born after 2005 from four months to one year.
It was expected that Tsai would make the announcement before the end of the year, so this was not a direct reaction to China’s most recent military threats. Tsai cited China’s August live-fire exercises around Taiwan, which took place after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the country. Tsai also brought up the invasion of Ukraine as offering lessons for Taiwan.
