The Defense Ministry says the election outcome will not affect the military conscription plan. Defense Ministry official Sun Li-fang (孫立方) spoke on Tuesday regarding the potential plan to extend Taiwan's conscription from four months to one year.
Sun says authorities are still managing some administrative procedures regarding conscription. He says the ministry needs to coordinate with different government agencies before announcing the final plan.
Sun says there are many factors that go into adjusting the conscription requirement, but the election outcome is not one of them. He also says the election will not affect the timeline for when the ministry may announce any changes.
Sun says factors that do affect the conscription plan include the Russia-Ukraine war development, Taiwan's defense needs, and threats from China. He says the ministry is also considering career development concerns for young conscripts, and the plan’s progress is within the expected time frame.