Hou's Comments on Shortening Military Service May Affect His U.S. Visit in September
United Daily News, July 4, 2023
In an interview, Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih expressed that after stability and peace are ensured in the Taiwan Strait, he will reduce the length of compulsory military service back to four months. This comment triggered problems.
DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu accused Hou's comment of ignoring the continued threat from China, and another DPP Legislator Liu Shih-fang criticized that Hou's comment is totally illogical and disregards Taiwan’s sovereignty. While Harsh criticism by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was expected, the U.S. has also put forth its concerns.
According to an informed source, U.S. officials from both the Taipei and Washington offices of the American Institute in Taiwan have been asking about the decision-making process that led to the said comment. To avoid public criticism by the United States, Hou's campaign office quickly clarified and reiterated that the precondition for the resumption is "after stability and peace are ensured in the Taiwan Strait.”
The DPP administration announced on December 27 last year that Taiwanese men born after December 31, 2004, will need to serve one year of military service starting January 1, 2024. The DPP knows very well that the loss of young voters will be the cost of this new policy. But under tremendous pressure from the United States, it had no choice but to swallow the pill.
Of course, another consideration is Taiwan’s combat readiness. A four-month service period can only provide conscripts with very basic training. A one-year service period will give them enough training to help the country form an effective reserve force and strengthen deterrence against China in the Taiwan Strait.
At present, in assessing Taiwan's presidential election, the United States remains neutral. When meeting the three presidential candidates in June, AIT Chairman Laura Rosenberger explained that having exchanges with each of the declared presidential candidates in Taiwan is a long-term tradition and in U.S. interests. She further stated that the United States will not take sides and will cooperate with whichever leader Taiwanese voters elect in 2024.
As the ruling party, the DPP enjoys abundant resources and has acted quite obediently to the United States. Within the KMT, on the other hand, there is deep doubt about American determination to defend Taiwan. Before June this year, Hou was deemed a popular presidential candidate, but he was very difficult to access, so much so that American scholars and politicians were wondering if the KMT can cooperate closely with the United States.
To communicate with the United States, high-ranking party officials in the KMT have three main narratives: first, reiteration of its pro-American policy, continued cooperation with the U.S. and carrying on previous defense policy; second, avoidance of criticism towards President Tsai and Representative Hsiao Bi-khim, as this would be tantamount to criticizing current U.S. policy towards Taiwan; third, Hou is a better candidate because Lai will drag the United States into an unnecessary conflict with China.
However, right at this juncture, Hou proposed the resumption of the four-month military service that is inconsistent with the current one-year military service that the United States favors. This may reduce American support for Hou and the American reception and courtesy level when Hou visits the United States in the coming September.