Taipei - Taiwan is considering extending compulsory military service beyond the current four months, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Wednesday. The war in Ukraine had earlier renewed a discussion about how best to respond to China's military threats.

Taiwan has been gradually shifting from a conscript military to a volunteer-dominated professional force. China's growing pressure against the island it claims as its own, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have prompted debate about how to boost civil defence.

Chiu said in the parliament that proposals to extend military service were still under consideration, and that there would "definitely" be a plan put forward this year.

Governments under the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the main opposition Kuomintang had previously cut compulsory service from more than two years to the current four months. The cut was made to please younger voters as tensions eased between Taipei and Beijing.

Taiwan's military is dwarfed by that of China's, but policymakers hope superior training could help give them the edge in a conflict. The government is also working on a programme to reform reservist training.
-Reuters