TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan considers increasing maximum penalties for military draft evasion from 5 to 7 years following Supreme Prosecutors Office (最高檢察署) recommendations. Defense Minister Wellington Koo told the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, on Thursday (Nov. 6) that the Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry will review the proposed changes. The announcement comes amid a celebrity draft evasion scandal.
Koo emphasized that discharge age has no connection to military service violations before addressing the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee (外交國防委員會). The Defense Minister said penalties will follow existing regulations and must consider different service requirement levels. Officials will determine punishments based on established legal frameworks for draft evasion cases.
Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) urged draft evaders to surrender voluntarily as authorities uncover celebrity evasion networks. Liu revealed the Interior Ministry ordered investigations 3 to 4 months ago, instructing local governments and courts to probe cases. The government's crackdown reflects commitment to enforcing Military Service Act (兵役法) compliance and national defense obligations.
New Taipei prosecutors discovered multiple celebrities involved in draft evasion, including Darren Wang (王大陸), Nine Chen (陳零九), William (威廉), Joe Chang (書偉), and Kunda Hsieh (坤達). Golden Bell Award-winning actor Hsueh Shih-ling (薛仕凌) surrendered Monday at the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office (新北地檢署). Authorities released Hsueh on NT$300,000 (around US$9,700) bail after questioning.