~ CURRENT EVENTS ~
"A Russian Legislature Has Introduced A Bill To Raise The Conscription Age"
According to Reuters, a Russian Legislator presents a bill to increase the age of conscription to compulsory military service from 18-27 years to 21-30 years for one year of active duty in March 13, 2023. The bill was presented by Andrei Kartapolov which is a former general who chairs the State Duma's defense committee and represents the ruling United Russia block. The bill would increase the number of men soldiers to a year's compulsory service when the conscription age is ten or eleven years rather than the usual nine. President Vladimir Putin supported Defense Ministry proposal to move the age range back in December. The goal of the minister, Sergei Shoigu, was to expand the number of combat personnel and the contracts of russian soldiers to 1.5 million to 1.15 million. According to the Russia's conscripts, they can't deployed the soldiers outside Russia. But after fighting Ukrainians to Ukraine for more than a year, they consider the 4 regions of Ukrainian a Russian territory now. The public of Russia criticized the government because a mobilisation of at least 300,000 men were getting ready for the war in Ukraine last autumn. Although, this seems to be bad to Ukraine, the Ukrainians are still holding them back which shows that they will die for their country even though they are a smaller country than Russia.
"Taiwan Increases Mandatory Military Service In Response To Chinese's Pressure"
According to npr, starting in January of 2024, Taiwan plans to extend the compulsory military service for a year instead of four months. This legislation will only apply the men who are born after 2005. The president of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen change the compulsory to four months because they are having a conflict with one of the powerful country, China. China wants to invade Taiwan because they want more power and Taiwan have the most advanced semiconductors, the chip for instance. Also, after the separation of Taiwan from the mainland, China, in 1949 during a civil war was one of the reasons why China wants to overtake Taiwan. China's harassment to Taiwan by sending fighter planes and navy vessels in daily basis in recent years what makes the president of Taiwan to change the compulsory to prepare for war if China started attacking the land. For men who are born before 2005 will still continue their service for four months but the level of training curriculum will increase to strengthens their military forces. According to Zhin-Sheng Wang, a defense expert at Taiwan's Central Police University thinks a 4-month military conscription requirement is too short and not providing enough training for the soldiers to become more stronger. On a good side, 73.2% said that they will support a one-year military service and 90% volunteers out of 188,000-person military did the one-year military service, and 10% are doing their required four months of military service according to the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation in December. Although, U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, President Biden promise to defend Taiwan if China attack the land.