Darren Wang arrested for avoiding conscription enlists in the military.

After being jailed for allegedly evading necessary military service, a Taiwanese actor officially started his conscription.

Local news outlets claim that Darren Wang, who gained notoriety for his breakthrough performance in the 2015 adolescent rom-com Our Times, attempted to obtain a military service exemption by using falsified medical records.

In Taiwan, all men must serve in the military for a year. Citing mounting concerns from mainland China, the government increased this from four months in 2022.

While China views Taiwan as a separate province that would eventually fall under Beijing’s jurisdiction, Taiwan views itself as separate from the Chinese mainland.

When word spread on Chinese social media about the 33-year-old Wang’s alleged military avoidance, some Taiwanese netizens accused him of avoiding his responsibilities. In contrast, others urged him to “become a citizen [of the People’s Republic of China]”.

Wang has referred to the Chinese mainland as the “motherland” and is well-liked there.

On February 18, Wang was brought into custody at his residence, questioned by police, and then released on bond.

According to local news sources, he was being investigated for allegedly forging a medical document. Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that “relevant evidence” had been taken from his residence.

A second inquiry into his potential involvement in an attempted murder case was launched after he was freed on bail and his phone was discovered to contain damaging communications.

Darren Wang arrested once more because of attempted murder case.

For this, Wang was arrested once more in March before being freed on bond. Both charges are still being investigated against him. Wang joined around 1,000 other trainees at Taichung city’s Chenggong Ling military camp on Thursday. After completing weeks of basic instruction, they will be moved to a specialised unit.

In Taiwan, all men over 18 must serve in the army. While some circumstances may allow deferments, by age 36, all men must have served in the military. Some years ago, men were expected to serve in the military for up to three years over the next few decades. This was gradually reduced until it was reduced to four months.

Moreover, President Tsai Ing-wen in 2022 said that this would be extended to a year due to escalating tensions with China.
Taiwan is in the forefront of the expansion of authoritarianism, she stated.

Conscripts would also receive more rigorous training, incorporating some aspects from the US and other highly developed forces.