Arcadiadaily – Actor Jailed for allegedly dodging Taiwan’s mandatory military service has officially begun his conscription. Authorities accused Darren Wang, a popular Taiwanese actor known for his role in the 2015 teen rom-com Our Times, of using forged medical documents to seek a military service exemption. Local news outlets reported that the 33-year-old attempted to bypass Taiwan’s compulsory military duty, which the government extended from four months to one year in 2022 due to rising geopolitical tensions with mainland China.
Taiwan considers itself distinct from China, though Beijing claims the self-governed island as its territory. News of Wang’s alleged evasion sparked heated debates across Chinese social media, with some Taiwanese netizens criticizing him for avoiding his duty, while others suggested he should become a citizen of the People’s Republic of China. His popularity in mainland China has further fueled the controversy, as he has previously referred to it as the “motherland.”
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Actor Jailed for draft evasion was arrested on February 18 at his home and brought in for police questioning before being released on bail. Authorities later revealed that Wang was under investigation for forgery related to a medical exemption document. Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that law enforcement officials had confiscated “relevant evidence” from his residence.
However, Wang’s legal troubles did not end there. During the investigation, police reportedly uncovered incriminating messages on his phone, linking him to an attempted murder case. This led to his rearrest in March. Although he was later released on bail, both cases remain open, and he continues to be under investigation.
On Thursday, Wang reported to the Chenggong Ling military camp in Taichung City, joining more than 1,000 other recruits. The conscripts will undergo weeks of rigorous basic training before being assigned to specialized units.
In Taiwan, all men over the age of 18 must complete military service. While the government grants deferments under certain conditions, men must enlist before turning 36. In the 1990s, Taiwan required conscripts to serve for up to three years. Over time, officials gradually shortened the service period, reducing it to four months before then-president Tsai Ing-wen extended it back to a full year in 2022.
Highlighting the need for extended training, Tsai emphasized Taiwan’s security concerns, stating, “Taiwan is on the frontline of authoritarian expansion.” The new conscription policy includes more intensive training modeled after U.S. and other advanced military programs. Reinforcing the island’s defense capabilities in the face of increasing tensions with Beijing.
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