Obesity Leads to Military Exemptions in Taiwan Amid Scandals

The Ministry of the Interior in Taiwan has revealed that obesity is the primary reason for military service exemptions over the past decade. This announcement comes in the wake of recent scandals related to conscription evasion, raising concerns about the integrity of the military recruitment process. In 2022, approximately 16 percent of eligible men, equating to around 17,000 individuals, were exempted from compulsory military service.

According to the Department of Conscription Administration (DCA), obesity accounted for nearly 30 percent of all exemptions during this period. Other significant reasons include low intelligence aptitude scores, flat or deformed feet, irregular heartbeats, and mental health conditions. These findings have emerged as authorities investigate allegations that several entertainers evaded military service through fraudulent means.

Earlier this week, four prominent actors and singers were questioned for allegedly avoiding conscription. They were released on bail after admitting to paying for falsified medical reports that indicated they were unfit for service. Liu Shyh-fang, the Minister of the Interior, noted that it is common for individuals to present fake medical certificates citing high blood pressure and other conditions as reasons to evade military duties. He mentioned that some individuals falsely claimed to suffer from psychiatric disorders, inflammatory spinal diseases, and a condition known as pneumothorax.

In response to these issues, the interior ministry, along with the Ministry of National Defense, is currently reviewing the criteria for military fitness classification. At present, men with a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 35 qualify for exemption. However, officials are contemplating raising this threshold to 45 to address the growing concern over the number of exemptions attributed to obesity.

Military service in Taiwan is mandatory for all eligible male citizens, typically around the age of 18, as stipulated by the Act of Military Service for Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces. From 2013 to 2023, the duration of compulsory military service was reduced to four months, leading to an exemption rate of about 20 percent to 25 percent. However, when the requirement reverted to one year, the exemption rate declined to 16 percent, which, according to officials, is still considered higher than desirable.

Data for the current year up to August shows that obesity remains the leading cause of service exemptions, followed by foot deformities, irregular heartbeats, low cognitive scores, and neurosis. From 2015 to 2022, authorities prosecuted 2,146 individuals for leaving Taiwan without approval to avoid conscription. Additionally, 572 individuals faced charges for intentionally injuring themselves or falsifying medical records to alter their eligibility. Of these, 125 cases reached the courts, with 94 resulting in prison sentences of less than six months and one individual receiving a sentence of up to two years.

The ongoing investigations and the government’s review of military exemption criteria highlight the challenges faced by Taiwan in maintaining a fair and effective conscription system.