Taipei: Taiwan's defense ministry has proposed amendments to the law on compulsory military service, aiming to replace fines with non-commutable prison sentences for convicted draft dodgers. This move is part of Taiwan's ongoing efforts to reduce draft evasion, as detailed in an advance notice published by the Ministry of National Defense (MND).According to Focus Taiwan, the proposed amendment to the Punishment Act for Violation to the Military Service System suggests a shift from the current practice, where most draft dodgers receive court sentences of less than six months, allowing them to commute the sentence to a fine. The MND believes that enforcing prison sentences would serve as a stronger deterrent and has thus proposed an amendment to Article 3 of the Act, stipulating prison terms ranging from one to five years for those evading military conscription.The amendment also targets individuals who evade reservist training and wartime mobilization, proposing the same prison terms. Additionally, a more severe penalty of up to eight years and four months has been suggested for those who have not served by the age of 36, the conscription age limit.Under Taiwanese law, such legislative amendments must undergo a public consultation period of no less than 60 days before being submitted for legislative review. This proposal follows a 2025 crackdown on a scheme where entertainers allegedly evaded mandatory service through falsified medical diagnoses. Investigations revealed that a syndicate, led by a suspect identified as Chen Chih-ming, facilitated these fake diagnoses in exchange for bribes, leading to the indictment of over 20 entertainers and musicians.Currently, all eligible male citizens in Taiwan, aged 18 to 36, are required to complete one year of compulsory active military service.