Taiwan Proposes Tougher Penalties for Military Service Evaders

Taiwan has proposed amendments to regulations that would impose a minimum one-year prison sentence for those who evade mandatory military service. The proposal also includes increased sanctions for men who deliberately delay the conscription process until they exceed the age limit, according to local media reports on Sunday. Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior stated that the proposal was triggered by several cases that drew significant public attention, including instances involving public figures from the entertainment industry accused of shirking their military obligations, as reported by the Taipei-based Central News Agency (CNA). The ministry stressed that military service is a constitutional duty for eligible men. However, recent cases have revealed attempts to evade service, such as extending overseas stays with visas, deliberately self-harming, or altering physical conditions to avoid conscription calls. According to the ministry, these cases have sparked widespread public concern. The ministry also assessed that current sanctions are not sufficiently effective in deterring such violations. In addition to tightening penalties, the proposed amendments also aim to revise sentencing guidelines. Under existing rules, draft evaders can face up to five years in prison. However, the ministry explained that in practice, many cases end with deferred prosecution, dropped charges, or prison sentences of six months or less, which can then be commuted to fines. To strengthen the deterrent effect while upholding the principle of fairness in the implementation of conscription, the draft of the new regulations proposes prison terms of between one and five years for violators.