Raising the bar: Taiwan alters draft exemption rules to add thousands to armed forces

Taiwan is tightening its military service exemption rules in a sweeping overhaul expected to halve the exemption rate and add thousands of conscripts to the armed forces each year as the island grapples with persistent manpower shortages.

Under the revised standards, which took effect last week, men will generally be exempt on weight grounds only if their body mass index (BMI) exceeds 45, while the height threshold for exemption has been lowered to 144cm.

Rules covering hypertension and other medical conditions have also been revised, while alternative service will be divided into two categories according to physical condition.

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According to the island’s interior ministry, the changes are expected to cut the exemption rate among conscription-age men from about 16 per cent to 8 per cent.