What Taiwan Stands to Defend

As a rising junior in high school, I’m not far from the Age of Majority, which, accompanying such change to my identity, brings both privileges and responsibilities that I must recognize.

One drastic change was my responsibility to serve in the compulsory military conscription from age 19 to 40.

Now, although I am reluctant to participate in such an ineffective campaign focusing on mowing, sweeping, and eating malnourished food, wasting a mere 4 months in my life is, while not ideal, a tolerable compromise in exchange for the freedom afterward.

Yet, starting from January of 2024, compulsory military conscription is extended to one year. The decision was mainly catalyzed by the straining geopolitical tension between the Strait, but the affected draftees, understandably, have shown widespread dissent.

After thorough contemplation, I also disagree with the policy because of the program’s lack of utility, efficacy, and legitimacy.

The thing is, as much as the government cites the example in Ukraine as evidence of similar invasions, the possibility of an actual invasion is infinitesimal.

Taiwan is an island; by definition, the country is vulnerable to mass invasion from the ocean. If China were to plot an invasion of Taiwan, it too would have to deploy its army via ships. 

And, obviously, ships are easy targets for on-land missiles and air strikes.

In fact, according to simulations done by CSIS(Center for Strategic & International Studies), if China were to invade Taiwan, it would lose more than 100 warships in a short span of four weeks, with casualties of tens of thousands of its soldiers.

Furthermore, the failure of the invasion, as estimated by CSIS, would weaken the authority of Xi’s regime. The aftermath of such severity should prevent even the craziest leader from ordering such reckless attacks.

Ok, I hear you. “But what if China actually attacks?”

Let’s say Xi launches a desperate invasion right before his death. Well, according to CSIS's simulations, Taiwan, although coming with considerable cost, would win the war alongside Japan, who would be dragged into war by the CCP, and the US, who pledged to protect Taiwan in the case of conflict.

Keep in mind that the “cost” is mainly financial. In other words, strengthening our economy and our diplomatic ties is as important as, if not more important, if we desire to remain an autonomous democracy.

In case you are wondering, no. The extension of mandatory military conscription will not contribute to our diplomatic ties. 

Critics might say the extension sends a powerful message that Taiwan is willing to spill its own blood for its sovereignty. In reality, however, such rash and imprudent actions simply demonstrate Taiwan’s lack of understanding of its path to victory.

The reason being, as I talked about earlier, the best chance of successful defense lies on the seas. Thus, in order to better allocate our budget and resources, establishing aerial and naval supremacy would be way more effective than refining our army.

Now, would a one-year mass training of land combat enable any of our soldiers to aim a missile toward an advancing ship?

I think not.

The virtue of national defense by our government, as beautiful as it seems, fails to acknowledge that traditional legions are not the way of contemporary combat anymore, even more so for an island like Taiwan.

We must not neglect that the national defense of Taiwan takes on many forms: From developing maritime and aerial technology to information warfare, from establishing diplomatic ties to building a robust industry that is crucial internationally. 

We are not in ancient Rome where the scale of our legions determines the result; Instead, because of the comparative size and population of Taiwan to China, we must find unconventional ways to out-maneuver our opponent, not wasting all of our manpower on the generic program that we had the audacity to deem “the necessary reform for national security”.

Finally, we must focus on the individual aspect of such reform.

Why should a high school graduate sacrifice one year of his own career progress for a futile program? 

Why should the government strip away the opportunity for young men to freely explore the world when they are the most knowledgeable they’ll ever be?

Why should Taiwan give young adults in other countries a head start while coercing our young men with ill-planned policies?

As important as it is to defend our country, it is important to ensure a prosperous future for our young men.

As crucial as it is to remain an autonomous democracy, we mustn’t forget that policies in any true democracy should abide by the will of the people, not defy it.

As much as the status quo compels Taiwan to prioritize national security over individual freedom, it is in the hardest tempest that Taiwan must show its resilience to reinforce, and not nullify, its core value of life and liberty.

We must take a step back and reevaluate the utility, efficacy, and legitimacy of such dramatic changes, or we risk losing our manpower, our resources, and the very value that Taiwan stands to defend.

Without them, Taiwan is as good as defenseless—a nation stripped of its spirit, unable to uphold the principles it once stood proudly to protect.

Let that sink in for a second.