TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said there are no plans to extend Taiwan’s compulsory military service beyond the current one-year period on Monday.

Koo said the issue was not discussed at a recent meeting on military matters with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), per CNA. Speaking at a media briefing, he also stated that the ministry has no intention of requiring women to serve.

Compulsory military conscription was extended from four months to 12 last year. Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) announced the change in 2022, saying four months was “insufficient to meet current military readiness requirements.”

The KMT caucus recently proposed increasing the monthly remuneration for conscripts from NT$10,000 (US$304) to NT$30,000. Koo opposed and recommended funding boosts for specific areas rather than a blanket salary increase.

Koo warned that increasing salaries would create political controversy. He also criticized the KMT for not explaining how the pay hike would be funded, arguing that this is against the constitutional separation of powers.

Defense Ministry Legal Director Wang Cheng-i (王正誼) said the Budget Act supported Koo’s statement. The act states that legislators must consult the Cabinet and specify the source if they make large budgetary changes.

The ministry’s accounting bureau director Hsieh Chi-hsien (謝其賢) said the act states the Cabinet may only allocate defense spending directly in wartime and other emergencies. Hsieh said this means salary adjustments should be outlined in the annual budget.