[Conscript] Draft dodgers caught...!

[vincewy]

[Moderator's note: That website uses frames, so there is no unique web-page address for each page shown. Hence, I don't know what page you are referring to.]

Richard, refer to this page

question 2 on the FAQ page

http://www.immigration.gov.tw/faq/Faq102.htm

there're a few ??? relevent to this on the main FAQ page

http://www.immigration.gov.tw/faq/faqindex.htm

[jidanni]

> Other than for the sake of convenience, why on earth would
>you want to become an ROC citizen?

Lived here long enough. Tired of carrying around my "negro card".
Want to be like everybody else.

You say everybody else only has one citizenship. Well, maybe if they want to be a minister of education, etc. but not otherwise.

[Satellite TV]

I became an ROC citizen at age 36 or 37. But I did go the visit the MOI Draft office in Taichung. I was advised that after age 35 you will not be drafted for the miltiaty service... However you may get a lucky lotto draw for a two week boot camp for those in the 35- 45 years age bracket.

I'm 44 in August and still waiting for my 2 week fun and games trip....

[Isaac]

the official may refuse to give you another exit permit after seeing you actually live here

Are they really allowed to do this?

I realize leaving the country every 4 months to avoid getting drafted is exploiting a loop-hole and morally wrong and so on and so on, but any way you look at it, it is still 'legal' isn't it?

If they want to do something about the loop-hole they could just patch up the law or something. Isn't refusing to stamp exit permits on someone's passport kind of like taking the law into their own hands?

[twu026]

Maybe someone who has recently finished their military service can help me out.
I am an expat and I am comtemplating on returning to Taiwan to fulfill my military service. However, I am uncertain of what to expect if I do decide to return and join the military.
Most of my Taiwanese friends here (New Zealand) have no intention of returning to serve their time - they regard it equivalent to a prison sentence. I have also heard some pretty bad stories of discrimination, harassment and abuse of returning expat serving in the military.
Does anyone know the living conditions in the military?
Is harassment, abuse and corruption really as bad as people say it is?
Are things improving?

Any info would be much appreciated.

[Satellite TV]

I found a very detailed article about how Overseas Taiwanese can avoid being drafted here:

http://www.oriented.org/legal/ID-4.shtml

"Poagao" (who often writes in these forums) is the only Westerner I know who has become a Taiwanese citizen (because no one else has been willing to give up his/her original citizenship), and in fact, I remember reading at his homepage (here) that in fact, he did serve in the Taiwanese military shortly after he become a Taiwanese citizen.

It seems extremely unfair to me that if someone is born overseas to Taiwanese parents or born in Taiwan but immigrates to another country before his 18th birthday, then he can come to Taiwan as often as he likes and will never get drafted as long as he doesn't overstay his visa. But on the other hand, if a foreigner obtains Taiwanese citizenship, then he gets drafted immediately!

I'm also a westerner who became an ROC National. But I didnt have to do military service. I was 38 when I got my ROC Nationality but wasn't drafted. I went to the Military Draft office in Taichung and they told me that males over 35 are not usually drafted, and I havent been.

[Satellite TV]

Maybe someone who has recently finished their military service can help me out.
I am an expat and I am comtemplating on returning to Taiwan to fulfill my military service. However, I am uncertain of what to expect if I do decide to return and join the military.
Most of my Taiwanese friends here (New Zealand) have no intention of returning to serve their time - they regard it equivalent to a prison sentence. I have also heard some pretty bad stories of discrimination, harassment and abuse of returning expat serving in the military.
Does anyone know the living conditions in the military?
Is harassment, abuse and corruption really as bad as people say it is?
Are things improving?

Any info would be much appreciated.

My wife's brother has been drafted at 27 years of age after being told he wouldnt be, as he is the only son and the father is deceased.

Apart from that after being drafted he took the officer candidate test and is now on Officer Traning. He's not had any problems, even though he's aboriginal. A lad who got on the bus with him in Jiayi fled, was caught, given 6 months in the military slammer and still has to finish his service after the sentence.

Guess you'll have to grin and bear it... PS If you've got tertiary qualifications you may go into the officer school