World News: Taiwan extends mandatory military service to one year

Taiwan is extending mandatory military service from four months to one year in response to growing tensions with China, which claims Taiwan as its territory. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, President Tsai Ing-wen announced new measures to strengthen Taiwan's defense in the event of an attack from Beijing. Conscripts will also undergo more intense training, incorporating elements from advanced militaries like the US. President Tsai stated that Taiwan's current defense system is inadequate to deal with aggression from China, which has a large and advanced military. The extension of mandatory military service will take effect in January 2024, the same month that Taiwan will elect its next president. Tensions between Taiwan and China have risen in recent months, particularly following a visit to the island by US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in August and a series of military drills by China in the seas around Taiwan. In October, Chinese President Xi Jinping did not rule out the use of force to unite with Taiwan in his speech at the Communist party Congress in Beijing. Taiwan has also become a major point of contention in US-China relations due to the island's close ties with the US. The situation was reportedly discussed during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and President Xi at the G20 summit in November, and tensions escalated further on Monday when Taiwan reported a major incursion by 71 Chinese air force planes into its airspace.