Around the world, conscription periods vary, with extreme cases such as North Korea requiring up to a decade-long service for male military personnel, while most nations require a shorter period, typically around two years.
Meanwhile, the Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle (CM-32), an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle currently being produced domestically, has suffered manufacturing setbacks due to ‘structural cracks from poor welding and metal fatigue’, according to the country’s Ministry of National Defence.
Around a sixth of the vehicle’s fleet is understood to have been affected by the defects.
Producer, China Steel Machinery Corporation, the largest integrated steel maker in Taiwan, acknowledged that welding quality needed to be elevated and has set about implementing modifications.
Taiwan’s forces rely disproportionately heavily on domestically produced equipment due to political pressure applied by China, which views Taiwan as a rogue Chinese entity and seeks reunification, impacting imports.
The CM-32 has been relied on to serve as Taiwan’s primary class of infantry fighting vehicle, despite drawbacks when compared to rival nations’ capabilities.
Recently, Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister Wu Chihchung concluded that China was preparing to invade Taiwan in an attempt to bring it under Chinese control.
“The population need to not be naive like in the past,” he explained, adding, “China is preparing to invade Taiwan. Taiwan alone, facing China – we will never be ready. It’s not possible, China is so big, so huge.”
Within the last 14 months, China has carried out numerous large-scale military drills, live-fire exercises and full encirclement of Taiwan with its jets and ships.
Beijing is also understood to be testing new technology and capabilities for a potential amphibious bridging system, forming a potential path to Taiwan, according to reports.