TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部), the government agency overseeing national conscription policies, issued an uncompromising warning Friday (May 16) against military service evasion through document falsification. Officials emphasized that draft dodgers could face imprisonment for up to seven years under criminal statutes. The ministry's public statement follows recent high-profile revelations that several Taiwanese celebrities allegedly circumvented their mandatory military service obligations by submitting fraudulent documentation.
In its detailed legal explanation, the ministry outlined the dual legal frameworks that could apply to draft evaders. Under the specialized Punishment Act for Violation of the Military Service System (妨害兵役治罪條例), a law specifically addressing military service violations, providing falsified medical or personal documents carries penalties of up to five years' imprisonment. Separately, Taiwan's Criminal Code (刑法) contains broader provisions against document forgery that could result in even harsher sentences extending to seven years behind bars.
The warning extended beyond potential conscripts to encompass healthcare professionals involved in the evasion scheme. Medical practitioners or facilities that provide fraudulent health assessments enabling military service exemptions would face not only criminal prosecution but also disciplinary action under Taiwan's medical practice regulations. Ministry officials underscored the fundamental importance of universal military service to Taiwan's defense readiness and social equity, pledging rigorous legal enforcement against all parties participating in conscription evasion.
In a particularly sobering detail for potential evaders, officials highlighted that the statute of limitations for prosecuting draft evasion extends to 20 years — meaning that even decades-old violations remain prosecutable under Taiwanese law. This unusually long enforcement window reflects the government's determination to preserve both the integrity of the military service system and national security priorities in a region where Taiwan faces persistent defense challenges. ◼