President Tsai Ing-wen announced on Dec. 27 that the compulsory military service period has been extended to one year. However, the DPP legislative caucus is trying to get the change from the government's executive order to a review by the legislature. The opposition parties criticized this as pure politics.
Soldiers practice shooting at targets. President Tsai Ing-wen announced a new military service system on Dec. 27 with the aim of strengthening the military structure. The compulsory military service period has been extended to one year. Opposition parties expressed support for the general direction of reforms, but cautioned that a comprehensive set of measures needs to be formulated and implemented. The TPP said the connection between the studies, military service, and careers of conscripts isn't only an issue for the Ministry of National Defense.
Jang Chyi-lu, Legislator (TPP): “It looks like they're saying they want to give conscripts greater flexibility. Let's say you've completed half of your university studies and you can serve in the middle of your studies. Can students study, and then decide whenever they want to leave? We're also facing a declining birthrate, and there aren't many people in (university) departments to begin with. How are schools going to adapt?”
Chen Ou-po, Legislator (DPP): “For major issues that affect the country, you can't have a single party working on them in isolation. You need to make things public and create opportunities for discussions. ”
The government was originally going to issue an executive order to implement the new military service system, but the DPP legislative caucus is trying to get this changed so that the new system will have to be reviewed by the legislature. The TPP criticized this as pure politics, and the KMT also had something to say.
William Tseng, Legislator (KMT): “Let's say the DPP caucus turns it into a review. If that happens, we have to look into two issues. The first is, was the announced executive order illegal? The second is that we may have to further investigate political responsibility.”
National Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng called on the KMT legislative caucus on Dec. 28 to seek support for the service extension. KMT Legislator William Tseng said Chiu is welcome, but he's half a step behind. There are reports that males born in 2004 and before are rushing to complete their military service before 2024 while it's still four months long. The acting interior minister said the service time is based on the year of birth, so there's no need to rush.
Hua Ching-chun, Acting Interior Minister: “Under the regulations, the military service period is based on the year of birth, so even if our young friends born before 2004 enlist after 2024, they'll still only have to serve four months.”
The one-year service period will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. This means that in principle, there's no way for males born in 2005 to enlist next year.
步槍打靶訓練，是國軍精實戰力的一環。為了強化兵力結構，總統蔡英文宣布兵役新制，義務役兵役延長到一年。在野的國民黨、民眾黨表態支持兵役改革的大方向，但也疾呼訓練內容等配套要做好。民眾黨立委更直言，役男學業、服役跟職涯的銜接，不是只有國防部的事。
立法院民眾黨團幹事長張其祿表示：「好像說要讓役男更彈性一點，對不對？你大學讀了一半，你也可以中間就去當兵，是不是學生隨便，念一念忽然幾個去了、幾個走了。現在又是少子化，一個科系也沒幾個人，學校未來怎麼因應？」
民進黨立委陳歐珀認為：「國家大事不能一個黨閉門造車，多跟社會有這樣公開，或者是多多討論的一個機會。」
至於民進黨團擬將兵役新制從查照案改為審查案，原本的行政命令，變成立法院將有3個月實施審查。民眾黨批評是純粹政治攻防，國民黨也有話說。
立法院國民黨團總召曾銘宗質疑：「假設民進黨黨團把它改成審查，我們要追究兩個問題。第1個，它的公布的行政命令不合法嗎？第2個，它的政治責任恐怕要進一步追究。」
國防部長邱國正28日中午到立法院拜會國民黨團，尋求支持兵役延長案。曾銘宗說很歡迎，但也批評是慢半拍。至於傳出有民國93年次以前的役男，想要趕在2024年之前服役，以免役期變長。內政部代理部長花敬群說，服役時間是按年次，不用急著入伍。
內政部代理部長花敬群說明：「因為兵役的規定就是按年次，即使在2024年以後入伍，（民國）93年次以前的年輕朋友，你們的役期還是一樣是4個月。」
花敬群還提到，義務役役期恢復為一年，2024年1月1日才會啟動，所以明（2023）年原則上沒有辦法讓民國94年次的役男申請入伍。
