Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen announced on December 27 that Taiwan's current four-month compulsory service training system will be changed to one-year compulsory service, calling it an "extremely difficult decision." As soon as the news came out, young people in Taiwan "fried the pot" one after another, leaving messages on the Internet saying, "Is it forced by the Americans?" "I will not fight for your 'Democratic Prohibition Party'!" Can the child never die? Have you considered the child’s parents?” “A soldier is going to fight on the battlefield, who cares if he dies in the battle or not.”
Screenshot of netizens’ comments
Extended compulsory service period, young people dissatisfied
1949 So far, the Taiwan military has revised the military service system many times. The current military service system is as follows: draftees born before December 31, 1993, regardless of service or branch, will serve one to three years of compulsory military training; draftees born after January 1, 1994 must receive four Months of standing service military training.
On December 27, Tsai Ing-wen announced at a press conference that the compulsory service will be changed to one year in the future, starting from January 1, 2024, and recruiting draftees born after January 1, 2005; The salary of a draftee, taking a second-class soldier as an example, the salary of a conscript, including insurance and meals, is NT$26,307.
Tsai Ing-wen also introduced the direction of the adjustment of the force structure, including "volunteer service as the main combat force" and "standby garrison with compulsory service as the main force", etc., and claimed that "only by preparing for war can we avoid war, and only by being able to fight can we stop war." As long as Taiwan is strong enough, it will not become a battlefield, and young people will not go to the battlefield.”
However, young people in Taiwan do not seem to buy into Tsai Ing-wen’s rhetoric. Regarding the imminent extension of the current compulsory service period, many young people expressed that they could not accept it, and left messages on the Internet saying that they "do not want to fight for the DPP" and "Taiwan will not be well if the DPP does not fall"; some netizens also wrote, " I went in and didn’t do anything, sweeping the floor and weeding”; some people stood in the position of parents and expressed that they would “worry about their children”; some left comments criticizing that Tsai Ing-wen was “trapping Taiwan on the brink of war”, expressing that "Against the extension of military service," calling the move "a strategy designated by the United States."
Screenshot of Netizen Comments
Taiwan Army’s "Dilemma"
According to Taiwan media reports, the total number of Taiwan Army troop establishments is about 188,000, but it has not been able to meet the standard for a long time. In recent years, the Taiwan military has continued to expand new units, but even if the military service period is extended, most of the manpower is still served by volunteers. Compulsory service has entered the combat readiness force again. It seems that the "shortage problem" of the Taiwan military can be solved, but the answer is just the opposite-the problem of the Taiwan military's volunteer manpower will deteriorate to an unprecedented level.
Taiwan media pointed out that young people from Taiwan enter the Taiwan military for compulsory service, and cannot take on the highly complex and highly technical military. For many young people, it is a waste of time and even their studies may be disrupted.
Zhao Shaokang, a senior Taiwanese media person, pointed out on social platforms that the number of births in Taiwan is declining. In the past year, there were 400,000 newborns, and now there are only 160,000. Boys caught "counting steamed buns" will seriously affect Taiwan's overall competitiveness. Serving as a soldier for a year has no productivity and no combat effectiveness, and the quality and quantity of recruits are insufficient. This is the current predicament.
In addition, Taiwan's "United Daily News" published a quick commentary on December 27, pointing out that although Tsai Ing-wen denied that the United States was exerting pressure, all walks of life have noticed that there is a strong American color behind the extension of the military service period. The "rock-solid" relationship between Taiwan and the United States is undoubtedly the "highest guiding principle" of the DPP authorities. Not only did TSMC go to Arizona, the United States to invest in the establishment of a wafer factory, but the United States also publicly urged Taiwan to switch to the "porcupine strategy" to show its full defense The military capability and will of the mainland; it is an obvious fact that the DPP authorities announced the extension of military service for one year in line with "good will".
also commented that under the pressure of the United States, Taiwan's extension of the compulsory military service period has long been rumored, but Tsai Ing-wen, Su Zhenchang and others are making political calculations and looking for an appropriate time for them to make an official announcement. In fact, after the DPP suffered a disastrous defeat in this year's "nine-in-one" election, the issue of extending the military service period has become a hot potato. On the one hand, the "anti-Cai" forces have different voices, worrying that "forced push" will further endanger the democratic progressThe party's 2024 election; on the other hand, Tsai Ing-wen couldn't bear the pressure of the United States, and she didn't dare to say "no", so she could only obey her words.
The "United Daily News" article pointed out that the Lunar New Year is approaching, and the DPP authorities have conditions to open the "small three links". . There is a fine line between war and peace. Tsai Ing-wen has shown a high degree of personal will, but it cannot guarantee Taiwan's future. When wars meet, no one wins. (China News Agency WeChat Official Account Author: You Jin)
