Taiwan will extend and reform its period of mandatory military service to one year as the country continues to contend with heightened tensions with China, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen announced at a press conference.
Taiwan's current four-month mandatory military service program is no longer sufficient to meet the country's combat readiness "in terms of quantity and quality of training," Tsai said.
Tsai called the move an "incredibly difficult decision" but emphasized that it was necessary for the country's national security and "democratic way of life."Starting in 2024, the military service will be extended to one year, with the change applying to all men born after Jan. 1, 2005.
"No one wants war, neither the government and people of Taiwan nor the international community," she added. "Peace will not fall from the sky," Tsai said, adding that "only by preparing for war can we avoid war, and only by being able to fight can we stop war."
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