Chien stated that the alternative military service system would be abolished by 2020 at the latest, and that male citizens born after 1994 would only have to undergo four months of basic military training.
However, he said the new military system would only be put in place if the Legislative Yuan passes related amendments to the Conscription Act to allow for the cancellation of compulsory alternative service and the introduction of the voluntary service system.
If the new system is introduced as scheduled, male citizens born before 1994 will still be required to perform alternative military service for one year, Chien said.
At the same time, those born in or after 1994 will have to receive four months of basic training because the Republic of China Constitution stipulates that all male citizens have a duty to perform military service, the deputy minister explained.
Kuo Ching-chuan, director-general of the Conscription Affairs Administration under the Ministry of the Interior, noted that the compulsory alternative service system would for the most part come to an end in 2018. However, the system would still remain in place to an extent until 2020 as male citizens with graduate degrees doing the “research and development alternative service” are given a maximum of three years to complete their mandatory service.
Kuo stated that the MOI and the Ministry of National Defense have held many meetings to discuss the issue of compulsory alternative military service after the implementation of the all-volunteer system in 2015.
Speaking frankly, he said announcing the plan to the public at the present time “is a little sensitive” because if the amendments to the Conscription Act are not passed, young males born after 1994 might stage protests against the government, with some perhaps even trying to evade performing their mandatory service. (SB)