Taiwan to expand conscription amid China threat

First modification: 12/27/2022 – 08:16

This democratically governed island lives under the shadow of an increasingly belligerent Chinese invasion, which considers it its own territory to be recovered in the future, even by force.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is expected to announce the extension of military service for all adult men at a press conference at 3:30 p.m. (0730 GMT) after a high-level meeting on national security, the semi-official Central News Agency reported. .

The presidential office said Monday that a proposal to “adjust the structure” of national defense was on the meeting’s agenda, but did not provide further details.

The CNA agency indicated that the change would take effect in January 2024 if the formal announcement of the extension is published next month.

The prospect of a Chinese invasion is increasingly worrying Taipei and its Western allies, especially after the Russian offensive against Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ensured that what Beijing calls Taiwan’s “reunification” cannot be left to future generations.

Taiwan, de facto separated from mainland China since 1949, would be overwhelmingly outmatched in a hypothetical conflict, with 88,000 troops against Beijing’s more than 1 million army, according to Pentagon estimates.

Conscription was very unpopular in Taiwan because it was reminiscent of the previous dictatorship and the previous government had reduced the period from one year to four months with the aim of creating a mainly volunteer force.

However, recent surveys show that more than three quarters of Taiwanese consider it too short.