COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE TO BE CONDITIONALLY CUT TO 1 YEAR: MND
ROC Central News Agency
2006-12-14 19:26:43
Taipei, Dec. 14 (CNA) Vice Defense Minister Ko Chen-heng said Thursday that the Ministry of National Defense is still planning to curtail the compulsory military service period to one year by the end of 2008, but added that this will be based on the premise that the volunteer recruitment goal can be achieved smoothly.
Ko made the remarks while reporting to a Legislative Yuan committee on the situation surrounding recruiting volunteer military servicemen as well as the plan to adjust the term of compulsory military service.
He noted that President Chen Shui-bian and the MND have said previously that the compulsory military service period will be shortened to one year by the end of 2008, but he also said that judging from the present situation, there does not seem to be room for further shortening compulsory military service in 2007.
He also said that the ministry will make a final assessment by the end of 2007 on the exact timing of the adjustment.
The MND had planned to recruit 6,561 servicemen in 2005, but actually accepted 6,644. It had planned to recruit 13,500 this year and had so far accepted 8,164.
Ko was responding to Legislator Lin Yu-fang of the opposition Kuomintang, who asked about media reports that compulsory military service will be shortened to 14 months from the present 16 months next year and will be further cut to one year by 2008.
Lin said the MND should keep the public abreast of the situation so that future draftees can make their career plans accordingly.
(By Lilian Wu)
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