BBC News
Getty ImagesA Chinese actor who was previously arrested for reportedly dodging obligatory military duties has then began his recruitment service.
Darren Wang, who shot to fame for his breakthrough role in the 2015 young rom-com Our Times, reportedly used forged medical records to try to get a military service provision, according to local media stores.
All people in Taiwan have to have enforced military support for one month. The state raised this from four weeks in 2022, citing growing dangers from mainland China.
Taiwan sees itself as different from the Chinese mainland, but China sees the self-ruled area as a separatist state that will later be under Beijing’s power.
News of the 33-year-old Wang’s reported military dodging had previously sparked controversy on Chinese social media with some Chinese netizens accusing him of evading his responsibilities, and people asking him to “become a citizen]of the People’s Republic of China ]”.
Wang is common in the Chinese mainland, and has recently referred to it as the “motherland”.
Wang was arrested at his house on 18 February and taken for questioning by officers before being released on bail.
Local media reports said he was under investigation for the alleged fraud of a skilled report, with Taiwan’s Central News Agency saying that “relevant information” had been seized from his house.
He was released on bail, but was eventually investigated once for his presumed participation in an attempted murder event after police apparently discovered incriminating information on his phone.
Wang was taken into custody suddenly in March for this, and was eventually released on bail.
He is still under research for both costs.
On Thursday, Wang joined more than 1, 000 another volunteers at the Chenggong Ling defense station in Taichung area.
They may have days of simple teaching before being transferred to a professional system.
All men over the age of 18 in Taiwan are required to serve in the army- though deferments may be granted in particular circumstances. But, all men are required to serve in the military by the time they turn 36.
In the 1990s, men were required to serve in the military for up to three years, this was over the next few years eventually shortened, before being reduced to four weeks.
However, next leader Tsai Ing-wen had in 2022 said this would be extended to a time amid growing tensions with China.
Taiwan is on the frontline of autocratic expansion,” she had finally said, adding that conscripts will even undergo more powerful training, borrowing some elements from the US and other sophisticated militaries.