TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The government has been mulling an eventual extension of the mandatory military service from four months to a year in recent months.
At a local high school in Taichung, students told TVBS reporters their take on this important matter that will impact their studies and future career plans.
When asked whether they would agree with a possible extension of miltary service in Taiwan, more than half of the class voted in favor of the proposal.
The results were similar to a poll conducted by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation, in which 73% of citizens aged 20 voiced their support.
Though a final announcement on military extensions has yet to be made, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has already adjusted the training period for voluntary military service.
The MND has now changed from the original five weeks and 230 hours of training to 8 weeks and 380 hours starting on Jan. 1, 2023.
The MND remarked that the adjustments were made considering the need for combat training and the training methods in other countries.
Even though the MND has remained silent on mandatory military service periods, Taiwan seems set on an extension amid soaring cross-strait tensions.
