Taipei, Dec. 14 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday it was working to make the transition from the current conscription system to a volunteer system, but no date had been set for ending the enlistment of soldiers. "When a timetable can be set for the transition, we will make it public," the MND said in response to a media report that people born after 1995 will be required to complete only four months of military training instead of one year of compulsory military service. However, until the four-month program is launched, young men will still have to serve for one year as regular soldiers or in alternative service, the report said. Even after the volunteer system comes into force, Taiwan will keep enlisting young men for military training, so there will be no shortage of troops in the event of war, according to the MND. If sufficient manpower cannot be recruited through the volunteer system, the government will reinstate the conscription system, the ministry said. It said young people who complete four months of military training will automatically become members of the reserve forces that will be required to join the regular troops in defense of the country. (By Hsieh Chia-chen and S.C. Chang)
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