In the face of rising China, Taiwan extends compulsory military service

Tsai-Ing-wen announced Tuesday that Taiwan will raise its military service obligation from four months to one, beginning in 2024. 

This extension is due to increased threats and provocations from China over the past year. China will host a Sunday event. sent 71 warplanes around Taiwan in what the People’s Liberation Army called a “strike drill,” As a response to “provocations” “collusion” Between Taiwan and the United States. 

“China’s expansion [of military aggression] continues to impact the international order, threatens regional peace and stability, and affects cross-strait relations,” Tsai said. “The existing system does not meet combat readiness requirements.”

This is a significant extension shift In Taiwanese politics since the 1990s, the requirement was reduced from three to one year to ten months. The requirement decreased Up to four months in 2013, with five weeks of basic training. 

“This is an extremely difficult decision, but as president, as the head of military forces, it is my unavoidable duty to defend national interests and our democratic way of life,” Tsai continued. “Nobody wants war. The Taiwanese government and its people do not want it, nor does the international community want it. But peace does not fall from the sky,” She said.

Tsai also stated that more advanced military readiness training would be available. Tsai said that this advanced training will partially be modeled after elements of the U.S. army and other advanced militaries. BBC noted. Tsai indicated that Taiwan’s current defenses are not capable of protecting against China’s growing aggression. 

China has continually provoked Taiwan, especially since Tsai was elected to the Democratic Progressive Party, which supports being independent from the communist state. Following Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) trip to Taiwan in August, China employed numerous provocative measures, including sending Chinese planes and ships in and near the Taiwan strait, with 21 of them entering Taiwan’s air defense zone.

You can find out more at conversation With Condoleeza and James Mattis, former Secretarys of State, Secretary Antony Blinken stated, “there has been a change in approach from Beijing toward Taiwan in recent years.” He said that China is a great country. “pursu[ing] unification on a much faster timeline.” 

According to The, the extension of service was granted after two years of negotiations and the encouragement of American military analysts. However, Tsai denies that American pressure caused the change. Wall Street Journal. The outlet stated that Taiwan is moving towards an all-volunteer force but that it was still difficult to recruit. 

At the Chinese Communist Party Congress, in October, President Xi called For “reunification” Taiwan, and claimed that the communist country is ready to use force to get it. “reserve the option of taking all measures necessary,” The Daily Wire has previously reported.  

“The wheels of history are rolling on towards China’s reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Xi spoke in the opening address of the party congress. “Complete reunification of our country must be realized.”