TAIPEI: Anger over the death of a corporal who was allegedly abused by his officers has dealt a blow to Taiwan’s plans to end conscription which have already been hit by low recruitment.
The defence ministry plans to phase out its decades-old compulsory 12 months of service by the end of 2015, replacing it with four months of military training for men aged over 20.
The government hopes volunteers will then enlist for a longer period of military service, making for a better trained, more highly skilled military.
Military service was seen as a patriotic duty after the island’s split from China at the end of a civil war in 1949.
But warming ties with Beijing have seen tensions ease in recent years and the idea of serving in a professional military seems to hold few attractions for young Taiwanese, according to recruitment figures.
The death of corporal Hung Chung-chiu, who died of heatstroke on July 4, has dealt a further blow to the defence ministry’s plans for a professional military.
Thirty-seven military officers and soldiers have been punished in relation to Hung’s death just three days before completion of his military service, with four of them, including a colonel, being detained on charges of abuse of power.
Professional soldiers receive around Tw$32,000 ($1,100) a month.
Yesterday thousands rallied outside the defence ministry demanding justice for Hung.
Taiwan currently has around 275,000 service personnel, down from a peak of 600,000 during the Cold War
AFP
