Last year, Taiwan extended its mandatory military service from four months to one year, a move aimed at bolstering the island’s defenses amid rising tensions with China. The policy has hit home for students at Taipei American School (TAS), with many families opting to send their sons abroad to avoid conscription. The change has sparked debates among students and parents about personal sacrifices, leaving the community divided over the challenges ahead.

Taiwan’s conscription system has changed dramatically over the years. Previously, young men served two to three years, but the term was shortened to one year in 2008 and four months in 2012. The change, enacted officially on December 27, 2022, aims to strengthen Taiwan’s defenses against a potential Chinese invasion. However, for many TAS families, it feels less like a patriotic duty and more like a personal dilemma. Families with international ties—those with dual citizenship, aspirations for global careers, or a history of studying abroad—are mainly concerned. They worry that mandatory military service disrupts education and derails career plans in ways that leave their sons at a disadvantage in an increasingly competitive world.

At TAS, the policy has become a hot topic of conversation. Male students in their junior and senior years are feeling the pressure to decide their next steps before turning 18. For some, the solution has been to leave Taiwan entirely.

“Several of my closest friends have transferred to other international schools like ASIJ (American School in Japan),” said Alex L. (‘25). “Their parents don’t want them to lose a year of college or work because of conscription.”

For Taiwanese Americans and dual nationals, the stakes feel even higher. “I’ve spent my whole life here, but now I feel like I have to leave just to avoid serving,” said Ayden C. (‘26) in a recent interview.

This sentiment is echoed across Taiwan. A 2023 survey by National Chengchi University found that while 58% of Taiwanese citizens support the conscription extension for national defense, younger generations and their parents are more likely to have reservations. They express concerns about the impact of mandatory service on education, career opportunities, and personal freedom, reflecting a growing uncertainty about the policy’s broader benefits.

For students, the disruption goes beyond missing a year of school. Studies show that mandatory military service can affect education and earnings in the long term. A 2015 study in the IZA Journal of Labor Economics found that conscription lowered the likelihood of university graduation and reduced lifetime wages by 3-4%. A 3-4% wage cut may sound small, but it can compound significantly over time for young men just entering the workforce, affecting promotions, savings, and financial security. Missing a year of school also means losing crucial time to build professional networks and establish careers, an incredibly daunting prospect in competitive fields.

TAS students are acutely aware of these trade-offs. “I want to go to college abroad and start my career,” said Jonathan H. (‘25). “Conscription just feels like an unnecessary obstacle.”

The Taiwanese government has introduced measures to mitigate these concerns, such as a “3+1” program allowing conscripts to finish college in three years and complete military service in the fourth year. However, critics argue that these programs force students to “burn the candle at both ends,” balancing intensive study schedules with military obligations.

For TAS students and their families, the conscription policy has created a divide: stay in Taiwan and face the draft, or leave the country to avoid it. Both choices come with significant consequences, and neither feels ideal. While the policy may strengthen Taiwan’s national defense, it’s clear that it’s also weakening ties within the international student community. For many high schoolers, the question remains: Is it worth the sacrifice?