TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s main opposition presidential candidate has promised to reverse an extension of compulsory military service due to take effect in January, saying he will ease tensions with China making the longer service unnecessary.
The democratically governed island’s relationship with Beijing is a central issue in the run-up to a presidential election on Jan. 13 next year, as fears have grown in recent years that China might invade the island it claims as its own.
Responding to the growing security concerns, President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) announced in December that compulsory military service for all men would be extended to one year from four months from Jan. 1.
Hou Yu-ih, candidate of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, said the DPP had triggered the “danger of war” but he would work to ensure peace.
“After I am elected president, I will work hard to ensure stability and peace across the strait. After that, I will resume the four-month service,” Hou said in an interview with TVBS broadcast late on Monday.
“Stability across the strait will decide the issue of our military service, and that’s why I will work hard to ensure stability,” said Hou, who is mayor of New Taipei City.
China claims Taiwan as its own and has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to get the island to accept Chinese sovereignty. The island’s DPP-led government says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.
The KMT traditionally favours close ties with China while Tsai has infuriated Beijing by rejecting its position that both sides are part of a single China.
Hou is running against the DPP’s William Lai, who is now vice president and is leading in the polls.
Hou said he supported the KMT position that both Taiwan and China are part of a single China though each can have its own interpretation of the term.
Tsai took office in 2016 and cannot run again due to term limits.
(Reporting By Yimou Lee; editing by Robert Birsel)
