TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A non-governmental organization in Taiwan recently received criticism as it suggested conscripts can complete their one-year mandatory military training in segments.
The initiative suggested that after basic four-month training, the conscripts could complete the remaining service during winter and summer breaks.
The "installment" proposal, posed by Luo Yi, Director of The Taiwan Citizen Front's activity department, received ambivalent reactions.
Experts questioned the continuity of the training process, while many enlisted men also reacted indifferently to the proposed segmented service.
Tung Shao-ming, Director of the Human Resources Division of the Resources Department, affirmed that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has no plans to segment military service within a year, insisting upon the completion of due service before discharge.
Military expert Shih Hsiao-wei also expressed similar concerns, emphasizing the potential risks in combat if the segmented time causes forgetfulness of training content.
Debates regarding the issue continue as Taiwan prepares for the one-year mandatory military service starting in 2024. Males in Taiwan born after 2005 will serve in the military for a year, an extension from the current four-month period.
