(Taipei) From 2024, compulsory military service will increase from four months to one year for boys born after 2005 in Taiwan. Between a desire for freedom and a sense of duty to their country, young Taiwanese are torn by the news. The Press went to meet them.
They learned the news on Instagram. “Irritated”, “irritated”, “frustrated”, it is even with a sigh of exasperation that Chen Ren-Yu and Ceng Zhi-Hong, 16, answer our questions. Because for them, military service means “following orders, being yelled at by superiors and having to stay in a weird place for a year”, lists the duo crossed at the end of their secondary school in downtown Taipei, the capital city. “I just hope to come out alive, both physically and mentally,” jokes the first. But the two big fellows end up resigning themselves: “We end up accepting it, because it remains a rational choice to defend Taiwan. »
PHOTO MYRIAM BOULIANNE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Chen Ren-Yu and Ceng Zhi-Hong
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen made the announcement at a press conference on Dec. 27. The 66-year-old called the decision “extremely difficult”, but admitted the current duration was “not long enough” to deal with China.
Military service was instituted in Taiwan in 1951, two years after the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek relocated to the island following its defeat by the Communist forces of Mao Zedong. Then lasting two years, conscription has since been shortened to one year in 2008, then to four months in 2018, the government preferring to develop an army of recruits.
“Proud to protect my country”
Other high school students are quite optimistic. “Four months was not enough to train us to become soldiers. A year will allow us to better adapt to this lifestyle,” believes Zhang Ting-Kai, 16, met with two friends in a small canteen near their school.
At his side, Li Jian-Yi says he is “proud to be able to protect [son] country”, but the teenager adds: “If our government really wants to improve the army, it will have to give us more useful tasks than just cleaning our dormitories. »
PHOTO MYRIAM BOULIANNE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Li Jian-Yi, Zhang Ting-Kai and their friend Chen Po-An
Because military service in Taiwan, often described as “summer camp” by our interlocutors, has a bad reputation: not very useful tasks, old equipment, little practice with real guns and unmotivated officers.
“Several young men who had just finished their military service confided to me that they felt even less safe in their country, because the training did not correspond to their expectations. The army must be aware of these problems, ”says researcher Claire Tiunn, who is studying the question for the Pacific Forum research institute.
The Taiwanese army also has difficulty in recruiting due to the lack of financial incentives, the low birth rate on the island, but also its low status in society, believes Zhang Ting-Kai.
“In Taiwan, people don’t see the military as an honorable profession. We prioritize university studies more,” explains the high school student who wants to go into medicine at university, pushed by his parents, he admits.
With the extension of military service, the government has also promised a reform of the program which will include more training with new weapons and live ammunition, but also a monthly salary which will be tripled (from C$285 to C$880). ).
relieved
For some young people born before 2005, it is rather a sigh of relief that inhabits them, since they will still be eligible for the four months of conscription. This is also the case of Wu Jia-Lin and Liu Chung-Chun, two 19-year-old geography students met on the campus of the National Taiwan Normal University. ” I am very happy ! », Answers us immediately the first, thumbs up, wearing a big smile.
His friend too. “We won’t have to lose a year of study, or even jeopardize our long-term plans,” he elaborates. Even their friend, Chang Wei-Chin, is happy that the girls remain exempt: “I won’t have to be separated from my friends. »
PHOTO MYRIAM BOULIANNE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Chang Wei-Chin, Liu Chung-Chun and Wu Jia-Lin
The extension of military service to one year, however, remains largely supported by the Taiwanese. According to a Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation poll conducted in December 2022, more than 73% of respondents responded favorably.
The announcement is also not expected to affect the ruling party (Democratic Progressive Party, pro-independence) in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. will not have the legal age to vote (20 years old)”, explains Paul Huang, researcher at the foundation.
As for Wu Jia-Lin and Liu Chung-Chun, they plan to do their conscription after their baccalaureate, with little enthusiasm. But the second seems more nervous because of the “tense climate” with China. ” And if [l’invasion] happened during my military service? Should I run away or stay? “, he wonders. Because even if he considers himself pro-Taiwan, the student knows that if the worst should happen, he will have to choose between keeping his freedom… or sacrificing it.