Taiwan-China Cross-Strait Tensions

How Military Reform is Winning Global Support for Taiwan

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By TaiwanPlus

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The U.S. government has welcomed Taiwan’s extension of its military conscription from four months to one year by releasing a statement of support from de facto U.S. Embassy in Taipei, the American Institute in Taiwan, shortly after President Tsai Ing-wen announced the change. Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific Security Chair at the Hudson Institute speaks to Taiwan Talks about how the U.S. and its allies perceive this move. Cronin describes the move as the clearest sign of commitment to Taiwan’s self-defense and how this is raising global support for the country. He also compares the one-year conscription to South Korea’s, and how it is a crucial first step, but much work remains to be done.