China
Taiwan’s Youth Volunteer Corps Controversy: Education Ministry Apologizes for Wartime Consent Forms Misunderstanding
Uncertainty Surrounds Taiwan's Youth Volunteer Program Amid Fears of War-Related Duties
The Education Ministry has issued an apology following the distribution of consent forms to students, which included a clause for service in times of conflict or emergencies.
Under the 2001 All-Out Defence Mobilisation Readiness Act of the island, minors may be called upon to serve in non-combatant youth service corps during times of conflict and natural disasters.
This month, following the distribution of volunteer consent forms for the corps among high school students, the Taipei Times reported concerns that children "might be deployed to front-line positions in the event of an invasion by the People’s Liberation Army."
Taiwanese news outlets have indicated that parents expressed concerns that the documents were related to military enlistment during a conflict.
On Monday, the Ministry of Education initially refuted claims about the existence of certain forms, but by Wednesday, it conceded that students had the option to volunteer for service, specifying that their participation would not include combat roles.
The ministry stated that previously, educational institutions like high schools and colleges would regularly provide student information to local officials for mobilization purposes during conflicts or natural disasters. This method was changed to a voluntary system last year to allow students the freedom to choose and to safeguard their personal information, according to the ministry.
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