Wu Zhengzhong, chairman of the National Science Council (right).

(Photo by reporter Yang Yuanting)

[Reporter Yang Yuanting/Taipei Report] President Tsai Ing-wen announced yesterday that from New Year's Day 2024, the compulsory service period for draft men born on January 1, 2005 will be restored from 4 months to 1 year. The Legislative Yuan stated that the research and development of substitute service will be canceled at that time, and that in the future, draftees with professional functions can also play a role in the national military system. Wu Zhengzhong, chairman of the National Science Council, said today (28th) that this is the right direction, and that the future national In the military training of the army, scientific and technological training is also the focus, and it will be used in the right way.

Wu Zhengzhong attended the "CES2023 Pre-Exhibition Press Conference" today. At the meeting, he delivered a speech and said that after the Wuhan pneumonia (new coronavirus disease, COVID-19) epidemic, the National Science and Technology Council once again joined hands with the inter-ministerial committee to advance the annual event of the New Technology World, At the CES exhibition held in Las Vegas, the United States, he said that 96 technology innovation teams from Taiwan participated this time, and 10 of them won the Global Innovation Award (CES 2023 Innovation Award). The start-up base has become one of the incubators for Taiwan's new ventures. He said that these start-up teams are invested by the National Science and Technology Council, but the National Science and Technology Council never takes back the donations, because these companies make money, which means that Taiwan makes money.

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After the meeting, Wu Zhengzhong was asked about the resumption of military service from four months to one year in response to the National Defense Policy. He said that this is the right direction. He was asked about the abolition of the research and development replacement service that used to serve companies in technology-related fields to strengthen operations. Li Shi said that in the future Taiwan's military training will also focus on scientific and technological training. Arrangements will be made according to their professional aptitude.

President Tsai announced yesterday the "Strengthening the National Defense Force Structural Adjustment Plan", which restores compulsory service to one year, supporting measures including an increase in salary from the original 6,510 yuan per month to 26,307 yuan, and major changes in training items, including There will be melee combat training and the operation of new weapons such as javelin missiles, needle missiles, drones, etc. In the past, many draftees with specialization in education could choose to develop alternative services when serving. Acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior Hua Jingqun said today in the Legislative Yuan According to the current international situation, Taiwan's strategic position, and the national defense policy requirements, the research and development of replacement service will also be stopped at that time.