Taiwanese actor Darren Wang, known for his breakout role in the 2015 film Our Times, has officially begun his mandatory military service after facing allegations of attempting to evade conscription.
Wang, 33, reportedly used forged medical documents to seek an exemption from Taiwan’s compulsory military service, which requires all eligible men to serve for one year.
His alleged evasion sparked debate on Chinese social media, with some Taiwanese netizens accusing him of avoiding his duty, while others suggested he should become a citizen of the People’s Republic of China.
Wang, who enjoys popularity in mainland China and has previously referred to it as the “motherland,” was arrested at his home on February 18 and questioned by police before being released on bail.
Authorities later expanded their investigation after discovering messages on his phone linking him to an attempted murder case.
He was taken into custody again in March but was later granted bail. Both allegations remain under investigation.
On Thursday, Wang joined over 1,000 recruits at the Chenggong Ling military camp in Taichung City, where they will undergo weeks of basic training before being assigned to specialized units.
Taiwan mandates all men over 18 to complete military service, with deferments allowed in specific cases, but service is compulsory by the age of 36.
Taiwan has a history of adjusting its conscription policies, with military service lasting up to three years in the 1990s before being gradually reduced to just four months.
However, in 2022, then-president Tsai Ing-wen extended the service period back to one year, citing growing military threats from mainland China.
She emphasized that Taiwan is on the “frontline of authoritarian expansion” and announced enhanced training modeled after the U.S. military.
As Wang begins his service, his legal battles remain unresolved, leaving questions about his future in the entertainment industry once his military duty concludes.
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