Comments on: Taiwan’s military and reserve force http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/ A different look at Asia, China and Taiwan Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:33:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Ultra http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23222 Ultra Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:50:40 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23222 Interesting article. Love your writing. I am an expatriate myself having immigrated to another country early, so I did not serve in the military. But from what I heard from my father, it used to be you have to serve 2 years in Taiwanese arm forces. You don't see military personnels on the street because most of them are inside the fortified bases and barracks around Taiwan. When they do get out, they don't wear uniform. It is the same thing like school kids (LOL) when schools are over ppl wants to change to casual clothes. None really wants to wear uniform and walk around because : 1. It is imposing 2. It makes you feel like you are not leaving your job behind to have good time while on leave. 3: If you wear a uniform and ermm.. cause an accident - let's say drunken brawl... the military takes a far harsher measure against soldiers on the leave than if you are just a civilian. 4. Lastly, I think it has to do with cultural issue. I am not sure if you know about "228 incident" or the difference between "Mainlanders in Taiwan" and "local Taiwanese". But it used to be ALL the Generals and senior positions in Taiwan are all occupied by mainlanders... (it is after all, Chang-Kai Shek's army). Chang-Kai Shek used the army to brutally surpressed the local people before, so wearing a uniform have the "supporting the oppressive regime" under-tone. Nobody wants to be associated with it. Interesting article. Love your writing. I am an expatriate myself having immigrated to another country early, so I did not serve in the military. But from what I heard from my father, it used to be you have to serve 2 years in Taiwanese arm forces. You don’t see military personnels on the street because most of them are inside the fortified bases and barracks around Taiwan. When they do get out, they don’t wear uniform. It is the same thing like school kids (LOL) when schools are over ppl wants to change to casual clothes. None really wants to wear uniform and walk around because :

1. It is imposing
2. It makes you feel like you are not leaving your job behind to have good time while on leave.

3: If you wear a uniform and ermm.. cause an accident - let’s say drunken brawl… the military takes a far harsher measure against soldiers on the leave than if you are just a civilian.

4. Lastly, I think it has to do with cultural issue. I am not sure if you know about “228 incident” or the difference between “Mainlanders in Taiwan” and “local Taiwanese”. But it used to be ALL the Generals and senior positions in Taiwan are all occupied by mainlanders… (it is after all, Chang-Kai Shek’s army). Chang-Kai Shek used the army to brutally surpressed the local people before, so wearing a uniform have the “supporting the oppressive regime” under-tone. Nobody wants to be associated with it.

]]> By: Poagao http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23123 Poagao Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:07:17 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23123 You've probably seen soldiers around town but didn't realize it as they weren't wearing their uniforms at the time. I can usually tell from their haircuts, tan lines and demeanor, but not always. As for me, I was drafted. All male ROC citizens at that time (mid-90's) had to put in two years' military service. You’ve probably seen soldiers around town but didn’t realize it as they weren’t wearing their uniforms at the time. I can usually tell from their haircuts, tan lines and demeanor, but not always.

As for me, I was drafted. All male ROC citizens at that time (mid-90’s) had to put in two years’ military service.

]]> By: fiLi http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23122 fiLi Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:04:05 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23122 Hai Tien, I believe you're right. It's interesting that the same thing is actually happening in the Israeli society, despite a growing sense of danger from internal (Gaza) and regional politics (Lebanon, Syria and especially Iran). The Israel-Lebanon war last year took this to the extreme, having halted what many perceived as an important move towards devoting less resources and manpower to the army. I'm sure it has something to do with the Israeli/Taiwanese economies, a change in this generation's ideals and a general tiredness of conflict based politics. Hai Tien, I believe you’re right.

It’s interesting that the same thing is actually happening in the Israeli society, despite a growing sense of danger from internal (Gaza) and regional politics (Lebanon, Syria and especially Iran).

The Israel-Lebanon war last year took this to the extreme, having halted what many perceived as an important move towards devoting less resources and manpower to the army.

I’m sure it has something to do with the Israeli/Taiwanese economies, a change in this generation’s ideals and a general tiredness of conflict based politics.

]]> By: fiLi http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23121 fiLi Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:58:00 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23121 Paogao... I've been trying to figure out how it was that you served in the ROC army. I'm sure there's an interesting story behind that. ;) It would be interesting to read a bit more about the politics regarding the Taiwanese army in recent years and how that is reflected within the society. I wasn't able to find much English info on that, sadly. Paogao…

I’ve been trying to figure out how it was that you served in the ROC army. I’m sure there’s an interesting story behind that. ;)

It would be interesting to read a bit more about the politics regarding the Taiwanese army in recent years and how that is reflected within the society. I wasn’t able to find much English info on that, sadly.

]]> By: fiLi http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23119 fiLi Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:53:56 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23119 Yuri... yeah, comparing to Korea is also very interesting. You're right, in Israel the army is highly embedded within the society, being the "people's army" and having a very evident presence in Israeli everyday life. Tourists are often intimidated by that, and I can totally understand why. I don't think I've met a Taiwanese soldier yet. They're defintly not walking around and taking public transportation, as far as I can tell. Most of the Taiwanese youth I met don't feel anything special towards the army or for serving in the army. Yuri… yeah, comparing to Korea is also very interesting.

You’re right, in Israel the army is highly embedded within the society, being the “people’s army” and having a very evident presence in Israeli everyday life. Tourists are often intimidated by that, and I can totally understand why.

I don’t think I’ve met a Taiwanese soldier yet. They’re defintly not walking around and taking public transportation, as far as I can tell. Most of the Taiwanese youth I met don’t feel anything special towards the army or for serving in the army.

]]> By: Hai Tien http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23105 Hai Tien Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:23:47 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23105 The impression I get is that politicians see slashing military service time as a quick and easy way of winning the youth vote, as well as votes from parents. Unfortunately, one side effect of the whole "strawberry generation" thing is people no longer have a pressing sense of danger. Military service is seen as a waste of time better avoided if possible. People who can avoid the draft but choose not to are considered oddballs, at least judging by the odd looks I get from the civil servants at my local conscription office when they realize I'm a dual citizen. The impression I get is that politicians see slashing military service time as a quick and easy way of winning the youth vote, as well as votes from parents. Unfortunately, one side effect of the whole “strawberry generation” thing is people no longer have a pressing sense of danger. Military service is seen as a waste of time better avoided if possible. People who can avoid the draft but choose not to are considered oddballs, at least judging by the odd looks I get from the civil servants at my local conscription office when they realize I’m a dual citizen.

]]> By: Poagao http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23102 Poagao Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:40:45 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23102 I dunno about now, but when I was in the army it was two years, 3 and a half if you had a college degree and made it through officer training, or 10 years with no degree and master sergeant training. But the current administration has since been slashing down the military service time, down to just a little over a year, while trying to implement a volunteer force. It used to be service was seen as a necessary, if risky, sign of adulthood, but not so much these days. We didn't wear uniforms when on leave, but I occasionally see soldiers wearing uniforms nowadays. The MPs also don't seem as forbidding as they used to. I dunno about now, but when I was in the army it was two years, 3 and a half if you had a college degree and made it through officer training, or 10 years with no degree and master sergeant training. But the current administration has since been slashing down the military service time, down to just a little over a year, while trying to implement a volunteer force. It used to be service was seen as a necessary, if risky, sign of adulthood, but not so much these days. We didn’t wear uniforms when on leave, but I occasionally see soldiers wearing uniforms nowadays. The MPs also don’t seem as forbidding as they used to.

]]> By: Yuri K http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23096 Yuri K Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:54:38 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23096 what a topic. i once thought that anthropological studies on army (Israel, Taiwan, and Korea - because military service is mandatory there) would be super duper interesting. just you know, south koreans (men only) are serving 2 years and 2 months - it's actually a reduced duration, my peers served for 2 years and 6 months. the threat of south korea... said to be north korea... the whole thing sounds like a joke (to me), yet i suppose i don't know much about it. oooops... anyways soldiers are not strangers but our little brothers - if a soldier is on the street, that means he's on vacation - everyone is nice/sympathetic to him. a common perception that a guy becomes a real adult as long as he finishs his military duty is shared by korea and taiwan - not sure if everyone agrees on this, just me and my friend from Taiwan talk in a similar language in terms of military duty (and sexism in taiwan and korea, lol) the threat that Israel and Taiwan face... no idea what i can talk about it, too difficult and sensitive. too many opinions, too much politics.. one thing that i do want to mention is that the role of Israeli soldiers seems to be quite different - they seem to be everywhere, on the street, with guns.. playing some sort of social mediator or cop or something (please correct me if it's far from right). that's definitely not the case of korea, how about taiwan? how do people perceive soldiers? what role do they play, and how is the role significantly differentiated from Israel? how do young men think of their military duty? and how does the "military culture" affect the general public? ummmm quetions just go on and on and on.. what a blah. sorry :) love your writing, always thought-provoking. what a topic. i once thought that anthropological studies on army (Israel, Taiwan, and Korea - because military service is mandatory there) would be super duper interesting. just you know, south koreans (men only) are serving 2 years and 2 months - it’s actually a reduced duration, my peers served for 2 years and 6 months. the threat of south korea… said to be north korea… the whole thing sounds like a joke (to me), yet i suppose i don’t know much about it. oooops… anyways soldiers are not strangers but our little brothers - if a soldier is on the street, that means he’s on vacation - everyone is nice/sympathetic to him. a common perception that a guy becomes a real adult as long as he finishs his military duty is shared by korea and taiwan - not sure if everyone agrees on this, just me and my friend from Taiwan talk in a similar language in terms of military duty (and sexism in taiwan and korea, lol)

the threat that Israel and Taiwan face… no idea what i can talk about it, too difficult and sensitive. too many opinions, too much politics.. one thing that i do want to mention is that the role of Israeli soldiers seems to be quite different - they seem to be everywhere, on the street, with guns.. playing some sort of social mediator or cop or something (please correct me if it’s far from right). that’s definitely not the case of korea, how about taiwan? how do people perceive soldiers? what role do they play, and how is the role significantly differentiated from Israel? how do young men think of their military duty? and how does the “military culture” affect the general public? ummmm quetions just go on and on and on..

what a blah. sorry :)
love your writing, always thought-provoking.

]]> By: 天天北极-Carrie http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23091 天天北极-Carrie Sun, 05 Aug 2007 12:15:06 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23091 totally my opinion: Israel is fighting and serving for its own survive~ that makes me respect this country very much... but Taiwan is serving in case one day it would fight with China, in Chinese words, like the son turns against his mother, that makes me feel disgusting... i don't see any good to compare Taiwan with Israel in this serving issue. maybe it's all about emotion, i'm so in love with Israel, and i'm in China~ don't get me wrong, i like Taiwanese people... they're usually very nice~ but the government is in such great disorders and i can hardly see the future clearly... totally my opinion:
Israel is fighting and serving for its own survive~ that makes me respect this country very much…
but Taiwan is serving in case one day it would fight with China, in Chinese words, like the son turns against his mother, that makes me feel disgusting…

i don’t see any good to compare Taiwan with Israel in this serving issue. maybe it’s all about emotion, i’m so in love with Israel, and i’m in China~

don’t get me wrong, i like Taiwanese people… they’re usually very nice~ but the government is in such great disorders and i can hardly see the future clearly…

]]> By: 天天北极-Carrie http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23090 天天北极-Carrie Sun, 05 Aug 2007 12:06:43 +0000 http://www.filination.com/blog/2007/08/05/taiwans-military-and-reserve-force/#comment-23090 Taiwan本来军力就不强 现在还要跟China闹... the China-Taiwan issue is so tense that every little governmental movement will arounse intense emotional conflicts~ how's ur opinion on this issue? Taiwan本来军力就不强
现在还要跟China闹…
the China-Taiwan issue is so tense that every little governmental movement will arounse intense emotional conflicts~
how’s ur opinion on this issue?

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