The Republic of China (ROC) has maintained a policy of conscription for all qualified males of military age since 1949, primarily as a means to bolster the defense of Taiwan against an invasion by the People's Republic of China. Females from the outlying islands of Fuchien, which are geographically closest to mainland China, were also required to serve in a civil defense role, although this requirement has been dropped since the lifting of martial law. Although the majority of all enlisted positions in the ROC Armed Forces have been and are currently filled by draftees, the government intends to gradually expand the number of volunteer soldiers with the eventual goal of forming an all volunteer military. However, even then there will be compulsory basic training for all males reaching 18. Recent years have also seen an increase in the service options open to draftees, including alternative service with the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), as well as specialized service options for draftees in specific professions. The draft process is set forth under the ROC Military Service Act under the auspices of the MOI's National Conscription Agency as well as by Article 20 of the ROC Constitution.^[1] Motto: None Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure)1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  - President Chen Shui-bian  - Vice President Annette Lu  - Premier Su Tseng-chang Establishment Xinhai Revolution   - Declared October... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Fujian (Chinese: 福建; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Fu-chien; Postal System Pinyin: Fukien, Foukien; local transliteration Hokkien from Min Nan Hok-kiàn) is one of the provinces on the southeast coast of China. ... The highlighted area in the map is what is commonly known as mainland China. Mainland China (Simplified Chinese: 中国大陆; Traditional Chinese: 中國大陸; pinyin: Zhōnggúo Dàlù; literally The Chinese Massive Landmass or Continental China) is an informal (disputed — see talk page) geographical term which is usually synonymous with the area... In military service, an enlisted rank is generally any rating below that of a commissioned officer. ... The Republic of China (ROC) maintains a large military establishment, which accounted for 16. ... The Constitution of the Republic of China (中華民國憲法) is currently the basic governing document for the areas controlled by the Republic of China, namely all of Taiwan Province, Taipei and Kaohsiung municipalities, and Kinmen county and part of Lienchiang county of Fujian Province. ...

The ROC Defense Ministry has announced that should voluntary enlistment reach sufficient numbers, the compulsory service period for draftees will be shortened to 14 months in 2007. Should this trend continue, the service period will be further shortened to 12 months in 2008. ^[2]

Eligibility

Under the current Military Service Act, all male ROC citizens between the ages of 19 and 40 are considered to be of "draft age" and are subject to conscription, including those possessing dual citizenship (though the ROC does recognise dual citizenship). Generally, dual citizens who are males of military age are not permitted to renounce their ROC citizenship prior to completing their service obligations. Draftable males classified as Overseas Chinese are exempt from the draft provided they do not reside continuously in the Taiwan Area for a) more then four months at a time for those born in 1984 and before or b) more than 183 days in a two year period. ^[3] Multiple citizenship is simultaneous citizenship in two or more countries (whether it is recognized by all countries or not). ... Overseas Chinese, more properly translated as Chinese residing abroad (華僑 in pinyin: huáqiáo, or 華胞 huábāo, or 僑胞 qiáobāo, or 華裔 huáyì) are Chinese citizens living abroad (not necessarily overseas). ... The Free Area of the Republic of China (Traditional Chinese: 中華民國自由地區) is a legal and political description referring to the territories of the Republic of China under the control of its government. ...

All draft age males will receive notices requiring them to report to the conscription sections of their local government offices at age 19 for preliminary assessment. Deferments are available for students of higher education institutions up to certain cutoff ages (24 for a bachelors degree, 27 for a masters degree, and 30 for a doctoral degree), as well as for draftees with one sibling already serving. Following completion of the active duty service period, all draftees are demobilized with all immigration restrictions lifted and are considered reservists until age 40. A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course that generally lasts three or four years. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate course of one or two years in duration. ... A doctorate is an academic degree of the highest level. ...

Draft age males are subject to restrictions on leaving the country prior to fulfilling their service obligations and require approval from either their local district offices (for short term visits abroad), or the MOI Immigration Bureau for students attending institutions of higher education abroad.

Draft dodgers are subject to criminal charges. Their actions were criminal offences and once they had left the country draft dodgers could not return or they would be arrested. ...

Service options

The following compulsory service options are available as of January 2006:

• Enlisted military service (士兵役): 16 months of active duty enlisted military service in one of the five branches of the ROC Armed Forces.
• Alternative service (替代役): 16 months of public safety or community service related work under the MOI, usually in the police, fire department, public clinics, local government offices, or as teachers in rural areas. Various billets are available only to draftees with related qualifications.^[4]
• National defense service (國防役): Available to draftees with advanced degrees, particularly in the sciences and engineering, who upon selection, receive 3 months of officer training culminating in a commission as an officer in the reserves, followed by four years of employment in a government or academic research institution such as the Academia Sinica or Industrial Technology Research Institute.

The Republic of China (ROC) maintains a large military establishment, which accounted for 16. ... The Academia Sinica (Chinese:中央研究院; pinyin: Zhōngyāng Yánjiùyuàn; Latin, Chinese Academy), headquartered in the Nangang district of Taipei, is the national academy for the Republic of China on Taiwan. ... The Industrial Technology Research Institute (Chinese: , abbreviated 工研院; ITRI) is a non-profit research institute located in Taiwan under the supervision of the Republic of China Ministry of Economic Affairs. ...

Draft process

The military draft process occurs in four steps:

1. Military Registration Investigation: Interview conducted by the conscription sections of local government offices to determine the educational background of the draftee as well as any special skills (e.g. proficiency in a foreign language). Generally occurs upon a male ROC national's 19th birthday or periodically upon his establishment (or change) of residence in ROC administered territories while of draft age but not yet drafted. Education and other deferments may be granted at this point if the draftee is eligible. If the draftee is not eligible for a deferment, a physical examination is scheduled. The draftee may also apply for alternative or national defense service at this point. In the case of the latter, the draftee will be required to compete successfully at an officer selection board for the desired billet, after which he will continue directly on to officer training school following completion of the physical exam.
2. Physical Examination: Draftee undergoes a full physical examination at a hospital approved by the Department of Health. Physical fitness is classified on three levels, A, B, and C, with level A and B draftees considered physically fit for military service.
3. Drawing Lots: Draftees fit for military service then draw lots to determine if they will serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps (Military police officers are selected from Army draftees). The chances of drawing for each service are not equal with the Army generally being the most probable, the Navy intermediate, and the Air Force and Marines being the least probable.
4. Basic Training: After being assigned a service branch, the draftee is then assigned a date to begin basic training, after which the draftee will enter active duty.^[5]

The Republic of China Army (中華民國陸軍) is the largest of the military branches of the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... The Republic of China Navy (中華民國海軍) is the maritime branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... The Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍) is the aviation branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of the Republic of Chinas armed forces. ... The Republic of China Marine Corps (中華民國海軍陸戰隊) is the amphibious arm of the Republic of China Navy responsible for amphibious combat, counter-landing and reinforcement of remote islands, defense of ROCN facilities, and also functions as a rapid reaction force and a strategic reserve. ... Unlike military police in many other countries, the Republic of China Military Police (中華民國憲兵; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó XiànbÄ«ng) are a separate branch of the ROC Armed Forces. ...

Legality under International Law

Most leading world nations do not consider the Republic of China on Taiwan to be a sovereign nation, hence it is unclear what basis under international law there may be for military conscription in Taiwan.

To be more specific, the territorial title to Formosa and the Pescadores was not transferred to the Republic of China in the post WWII peace treaty. Without clear possession of territorial title, of course the ROC on Taiwan cannot be considered a sovereign nation. For a non-sovereign nation to implement mandatory military conscription policies over its local populace can be held to be a form of slavery or forced labor, and is illegal.

References

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 95 days remaining. ... A news release or press release is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something claimed as having news value. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ...

External links

• National Conscription Agency, Ministry of the Interior
• Military draft information, Dept. of Compulsory Military Service, Taipei City Government
• Conscription Information, Ministry of National Defense