Latest news with #DarrenWang
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
OwlTing Introduces OwlPay® Stablecoin Checkout™ for Global Businesses
By GlobeNewswire Published on July 29, 2025, 22:41 IST ARLINGTON, Va., July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OwlTing Group (the 'Company'), a global blockchain fintech company, today announced the launch of OwlPay® Stablecoin Checkout™, a new API-embedded stablecoin acquiring1 function set to go live in August 2025. With newly approved Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Colorado, OwlTing is now available for fund operations in 36 U.S. states2, reinforcing its commitment to compliant, fast, and scalable cross-border payments. Designed for global enterprises in mobility, hospitality, e-commerce, and gaming sectors, OwlPay® Stablecoin Checkout™ enables seamless USD-USDC3 conversions, allowing businesses to accept stablecoin payments and settle in USD through their own platforms or leveraging the built-in feature on the user interface of OwlPay® Payment, the flagship B2B payment tool for businesses of all sizes. 'To bridge the gap between fiat and digital currencies, OwlPay® Stablecoin Checkout™ is a game-changer as to how businesses open up the revenues from stablecoins,' said Darren Wang, Founder and CEO at OwlTing Group. 'Imagine a world where a traveler pays for a stay in USDC, a driver gets paid in USD, or a merchant settles global sales without worrying about currency fluctuations, all securely handled in the background. That's the future we're building, empowering businesses to thrive in a borderless economy with confidence and ease.' OwlPay® Stablecoin Checkout™ allows large enterprises to integrate OwlPay® Harbor™, the AI-powered4 payment API infrastructure, for a customized payment experience within their own user interfaces, enabling end customers to pay in USDC while businesses receive USD in their digital wallets or bank accounts. For small and medium enterprises (SMEs) without technical expertise, OwlPay® Payment offers a ready-to-use interface with the embedded stablecoin checkout function, delivering a streamlined payment journey. This flexibility unlocks the $260 billion stablecoin market5 for businesses seeking efficient, low-cost payment solutions. How OwlPay® Stablecoin Checkout™ works for global commerce with or without a payment API, for example: Mobility Platforms A ride-hailing app integrates OwlPay ® Stablecoin Checkout™ to allow passengers (payers) to pay for rides in USDC via the app's interface. OwlPay ® converts these USDC payments to USD, depositing the funds into the app's or driver's (receiver's) designated digital wallets or bank accounts. This ensures fast, compliant payouts across over 100 countries 6 , reducing foreign exchange costs and settlement delays. A ride-hailing app integrates OwlPay Stablecoin Checkout™ to allow passengers (payers) to pay for rides in USDC via the app's interface. OwlPay converts these USDC payments to USD, depositing the funds into the app's or driver's (receiver's) designated digital wallets or bank accounts. This ensures fast, compliant payouts across over 100 countries , reducing foreign exchange costs and settlement delays. Hospitality Platforms An online travel agency integrates OwlPay ® Stablecoin Checkout™ via APIs into its booking platform, enabling travelers (payers) to pay for hotels, flights, or tours in USDC. OwlPay ® converts these USDC payments to fiat, disbursing funds to hoteliers, tour operators, or airlines (receivers) in their local currencies 7 (e.g., CAD, EUR, GBP, JPY). An online travel agency integrates OwlPay Stablecoin Checkout™ via APIs into its booking platform, enabling travelers (payers) to pay for hotels, flights, or tours in USDC. OwlPay converts these USDC payments to fiat, disbursing funds to hoteliers, tour operators, or airlines (receivers) in their local currencies (e.g., CAD, EUR, GBP, JPY). E-Commerce Platforms An online retailer uses the OwlPay ® Payment's interface with the OwlPay ® Stablecoin Checkout™ feature to allow customers (payers) to pay for products in USDC. OwlPay ® instantly converts USDC payments to USD, depositing funds to the retailer's (receiver's) digital wallets or bank accounts. This simplifies cross-border sales and unlocks the retailer's business without the need to manage complex blockchain integrations. An online retailer uses the OwlPay Payment's interface with the OwlPay Stablecoin Checkout™ feature to allow customers (payers) to pay for products in USDC. OwlPay instantly converts USDC payments to USD, depositing funds to the retailer's (receiver's) digital wallets or bank accounts. This simplifies cross-border sales and unlocks the retailer's business without the need to manage complex blockchain integrations. Gaming Platforms A gaming marketplace adapts to the OwlPay® Payment's interface with the OwlPay® Stablecoin Checkout™ feature, providing a way for gamers (payers) to purchase games, in-game items, or subscriptions in USDC. OwlPay® converts these USDC payments to USD, transferring funds into the platform's or gaming developer's (receiver's) digital wallets or bank accounts. Faster settlements allow developers to reinvest in new games and enhance community engagement, fostering loyalty and positive player experiences. The rise of stablecoin payments, with $5.7 trillion in total transaction volume across 1.3 billion payment transactions in 20248, underscores the demand for efficient digital payment solutions. To address this trend and ensure trust and reliability for global operations, OwlTing continues to grow its regulatory footprint, with MTLs or equivalents now secured in 35 U.S. states. The Company is actively pursuing licenses in additional U.S. states and global markets like Japan and the EU. With adherence to strict KYC/AML standards and plans for adapting to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)9 later this year, OwlTing remains a trusted partner for businesses navigating the future of stablecoin in global payments. About OwlTing Group Founded in 2010, OwlTing is a global blockchain fintech company headquartered in Taiwan and has subsidiaries in the U.S., Japan, Poland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Malaysia. In 2025, OwlTing was named a top stablecoin innovator by CB Insights, ranked #2 globally under the B2B & Enterprise Solution. In 2022, it was selected by KPMG and HSBC as 'the Leading 3 Emerging Giants in Taiwan'. With the mission to usher in the digital transformation of traditional payment processes, while ensuring legal compliance, OwlTing introduced OwlPay®, a Web2 and Web3 hybrid payment solution, to empower global businesses to operate confidently in the expanding stablecoin economy. For more information, visit . Media Contact [email protected] 1 Stablecoin acquiring enables businesses to accept payments in USD-pegged digital currencies such as USDC, which OwlPay® converts the payments to USD for global transactions. 2 Availability may vary by jurisdiction and is subject to change. As of July 2025, OwlTing Group has obtained MTL licenses or their equivalent in 35 U.S. states and is applying for licenses in additional states. For a list of U.S. licenses obtained, please see . 3 USDC is an internet-native, fully-reserved, regulated digital dollar that leverages blockchain networks to enable businesses, developers, and individuals to conduct near-real-time, low-cost global transactions. It is a leading, fully-reserved global stablecoin issued through Circle's regulated affiliates. To learn more about using or accessing USDC, visit 4 OwlPay® Harbor™ uses Model Context Protocol (MCP), a tool similar to a 'USB-C port for AI models', to simplify API integration for businesses while helping developers easily connect their AI models without sharing sensitive data. 5 According to DeFiLlalma, the data aggregator for DeFi, the total stablecoin market cap is over $260 billions as of July 2025. 6 Availability may vary by jurisdiction and is subject to change. Please refer to the most current service documentation or contact OwlPay® support for the latest coverage. 7 OwlPay® Harbor™ processes transactions as local payments in the following 10 currencies: EUR (via SEPA), CAD, GBP, JPY, SGD, HKD, ZAR, AED, MXN, and BRL. Availability is subject to change. Please refer to the most current service documentation or contact OwlPay® support for the latest coverage. 8 According to the Visa Onchain Analytics Dashboard, please check . 9 NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) was developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. It provides guidance to industry, government agencies, and other organizations such as OwlTing to manage cybersecurity risks. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Egypt Independent
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
A celebrity draft-dodging scandal lays bare problems with Taiwan's crucial reservist force
Taipei, Taiwan CNN — A draft-dodging scandal in Taiwan allegedly involving a number of actors, influencers, and musicians has cast an unflattering spotlight on the conscript and reservist forces which could one day stand between the island and a possible invasion by China. Taiwan's military service regime, which runs alongside its conventional military, faces accusations of failing to prepare conscripts for an actual war – an alarming situation against a drumbeat of threats from its giant neighbor. On Monday, authorities indicted 28 defendants. Prosecutors allege that, between 2016 and early this year, a four-person ring helped 24 healthy men dodge the draft by faking high blood pressure to gain a medical exemption, netting a total of 7.63 million Taiwanese dollars ($255,000). At least 11 celebrities are now under investigation. Among those indicted was the actor Darren Wang. The 34-year-old, launched to fame across the Chinese-speaking world a decade ago as a boyish heartthrob in teen romcom Our Times, was accused of paying 3.6 million Taiwanese dollars ($120,000) for a fake hypertension diagnosis. He has since begun military service, which is mandatory for men aged 19 to 36. CNN has reached out to Wang's representatives for comment, but did not receive a response. Taiwanese actor Darren Wang leaves the police department in Taipei, Taiwan, after being released on bail on February 18, 2025. VCG/AP/File Such organized efforts to evade conscription are largely seen as a sign of people's apathy towards service, rather than their fear of military rough-and-tumble. 'What puts off the conscripts is not exhaustion from training, but the sense of waste of time,' Chieh Chung, an associate research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (NDSR), told CNN. 'Most of the time during the service is dedicated to miscellaneous tasks, and not actually combat-related.' A mundane duty Back in 1949, as the Nationalist government lost a bloody civil war against the insurgent Chinese Communist Party and fled to Taiwan, it introduced mandatory military service to the island, where eligible men would serve two years in the army or three years in the navy, air force or marines. The system, in one form or another, has been in place ever since – as have Beijing's designs on the island, which the Communist Party claims as its own territory, to be taken by force if necessary. But military service has long been seen as anything but heroic. Conscripts have described it as monotonous, disorganized and often irrelevant to modern warfare: a combination of indoor lectures, hours of waiting around, and outdated ceremonial drills. 'Not only are you not going to learn anything effective, you're going to fire a couple of bullets, sit through lectures, mow lawns, stand guard duty – all the things associated with a spit-and-polish military,' Mike Hunzeker, a former US Marine officer who has trained Taiwanese units, told CNN. US officials, not authorized to speak openly, quietly warn that Taiwan's reserve forces remain the soft underbelly of its defense posture. One official said millions of former conscripts exist 'on paper,' but years of truncated service and minimal refresher training have left them 'underprepared for modern warfare.' Past CNN interviews with former conscripts paint a bleak picture: decades-old rifles shared between units, cannon and mortar training with little or no live ammunition, and conscripts left idle or tasked with meaningless chores. While there are no official estimates for the number of illegal draft-dodgers, a tally by the Ministry of the Interior shows that, from 2021 to 2023, cases of suspected obstruction of military service have risen from 309 to 553. 'It is imperative to reform military service as quickly as possible,' said Wu Tzu-li, an associate research fellow at the INDSR. 'After all, the fight ultimately comes down to the people operating the weapons and not the weaponry itself, so having solid education and training is crucial.' Taiwan's military conducts its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live-fire test launch at the Jiupeng base in Pingtung, Taiwan May 12, 2025. Ann Wang/Reuters Attempts at reform Even Taiwan's leaders have acknowledged the problem. Shortly after taking office in 2016, former President Tsai Ing-wen called for sweeping reform, as opposed to 'papering over problems, wasting human resources, and operating inefficiently in so many different ways.' In response to growing security threats from Beijing, which conducted at least three large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last year, and sent warplanes, naval vessels and coast guards close to the island on a near-daily basis – Taiwan's government has extended training time for conscripts and introduced reforms such as more live-fire drills and an emphasis on modern tactics. As of January 2024, the minimum active-duty period was increased to one full year, up from just four months under the previous policy. These changes seem to be gradually bearing fruit. Alex Chang, a recent conscript in his mid-20s who spoke to CNN, observed that training has intensified since the extension of mandatory military service. 'The sounds of bullets firing and grenades exploding have been going non-stop on the training ground,' he said. The changes' effectiveness remains to be seen. Critics say that unless Taiwan revamps how – and what – soldiers are taught, young men will continue to view the draft as symbolic rather than strategic. 'The key is what kinds of training will be provided to the new conscripts,' said Chieh. 'It's important to not let them feel they've wasted one year.' Another US official added that 'Taiwan is making good progress in enhancing the realism of training for reservists, but still has work to do in updating their equipment and reforming the organization of reserve units.' 'Retraining and equipping existing reservists to operate asymmetric platforms like drones and anti-air missiles will have an outsized impact on Taiwan's ability to deter conflict.' In a statement to CNN, the Defense Ministry said: 'Military service is a civic duty prescribed in the constitution. Any attempt to evade conscription by any means should be condemned and subject to legal actions.' It added that the new, extended one-year training period 'enables conscripts to undergo systematic and comprehensive military training, including enlistment, stationing, specialization, base training, and joint exercises – equipping them with essential combat skills and a firm resolve to defend the nation.' K-pop band BTS members RM, left, and V salute after being discharged from a mandatory military service in Chuncheon, South Korea, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Ahn Young-joon/AP Korean contrast In nearby South Korea – another place marked by long-running hostility with its nearest neighbor – military service is taken a lot more seriously, and counting down the days until major celebrities will park their careers to don military fatigues has become something of a national pastime. Rather than damaging reputations, military service is often seen as a sign of integrity and patriotism in major stars – an impression that can enhance their careers after taking off the uniform. Earlier this month, K-pop superstars RM and V, from the band BTS, became the latest high-profile conscripts discharged from national service. They each saluted upon their release from duty in Chuncheon city, after about 18 months of active service, to the cheers of about 200 gathered fans – some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil. The other five members of the massively popular group either have completed or will complete the mandatory service, and the band expects to reunite within the next 12 months. Even soccer superstar Son Heung-min, who avoided conscription through an exemption after winning gold at the 2018 Asian Games with South Korea's national team, has taken four weeks of basic military training. For Taiwan to restore faith in conscription, military analysts say, it will need to reduce loopholes, improve instruction, and modernize training to reflect real threats – particularly as tensions with Beijing intensify. It will also, they say, need a cultural shift: one that values service not as empty symbolism, but as preparation for a possible fight. But it depends whether the recent reforms take root. 'The fear,' said one former conscript, 'is that the new system will look just like the old one – only longer.'
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A celebrity draft-dodging scandal lays bare problems with Taiwan's crucial reservist force
A draft-dodging scandal in Taiwan allegedly involving a number of actors, influencers, and musicians has cast an unflattering spotlight on the conscript and reservist forces which could one day stand between the island and a possible invasion by China. Taiwan's military service regime, which runs alongside its conventional military, faces accusations of failing to prepare conscripts for an actual war – an alarming situation against a drumbeat of threats from its giant neighbor. On Monday, authorities indicted 28 defendants. Prosecutors allege that, between 2016 and early this year, a four-person ring helped 24 healthy men dodge the draft by faking high blood pressure to gain a medical exemption, netting a total of 7.63 million Taiwanese dollars ($255,000). At least 11 celebrities are now under investigation. Among those indicted was the actor Darren Wang. The 34-year-old, launched to fame across the Chinese-speaking world a decade ago as a boyish heartthrob in teen romcom Our Times, was accused of paying 3.6 million Taiwanese dollars ($120,000) for a fake hypertension diagnosis. He has since begun military service, which is mandatory for men aged 19 to 36. CNN has reached out to Wang's representatives for comment, but did not receive a response. Such organized efforts to evade conscription are largely seen as a sign of people's apathy towards service, rather than their fear of military rough-and-tumble. 'What puts off the conscripts is not exhaustion from training, but the sense of waste of time,' Chieh Chung, an associate research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (NDSR), told CNN. 'Most of the time during the service is dedicated to miscellaneous tasks, and not actually combat-related.' Back in 1949, as the Nationalist government lost a bloody civil war against the insurgent Chinese Communist Party and fled to Taiwan, it introduced mandatory military service to the island, where eligible men would serve two years in the army or three years in the navy, air force or marines. The system, in one form or another, has been in place ever since – as have Beijing's designs on the island, which the Communist Party claims as its own territory, to be taken by force if necessary. But military service has long been seen as anything but heroic. Conscripts have described it as monotonous, disorganized and often irrelevant to modern warfare: a combination of indoor lectures, hours of waiting around, and outdated ceremonial drills. 'Not only are you not going to learn anything effective, you're going to fire a couple of bullets, sit through lectures, mow lawns, stand guard duty – all the things associated with a spit-and-polish military,' Mike Hunzeker, a former US Marine officer who has trained Taiwanese units, told CNN. US officials, not authorized to speak openly, quietly warn that Taiwan's reserve forces remain the soft underbelly of its defense posture. One official said millions of former conscripts exist 'on paper,' but years of truncated service and minimal refresher training have left them 'underprepared for modern warfare.' Past CNN interviews with former conscripts paint a bleak picture: decades-old rifles shared between units, cannon and mortar training with little or no live ammunition, and conscripts left idle or tasked with meaningless chores. While there are no official estimates for the number of illegal draft-dodgers, a tally by the Ministry of the Interior shows that, from 2021 to 2023, cases of suspected obstruction of military service have risen from 309 to 553. 'It is imperative to reform military service as quickly as possible,' said Wu Tzu-li, an associate research fellow at the INDSR. 'After all, the fight ultimately comes down to the people operating the weapons and not the weaponry itself, so having solid education and training is crucial.' Even Taiwan's leaders have acknowledged the problem. Shortly after taking office in 2016, former President Tsai Ing-wen called for sweeping reform, as opposed to 'papering over problems, wasting human resources, and operating inefficiently in so many different ways.' In response to growing security threats from Beijing, which conducted at least three large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last year, and sent warplanes, naval vessels and coast guards close to the island on a near-daily basis – Taiwan's government has extended training time for conscripts and introduced reforms such as more live-fire drills and an emphasis on modern tactics. As of January 2024, the minimum active-duty period was increased to one full year, up from just four months under the previous policy. These changes seem to be gradually bearing fruit. Alex Chang, a recent conscript in his mid-20s who spoke to CNN, observed that training has intensified since the extension of mandatory military service. 'The sounds of bullets firing and grenades exploding have been going non-stop on the training ground,' he said. The changes' effectiveness remains to be seen. Critics say that unless Taiwan revamps how – and what – soldiers are taught, young men will continue to view the draft as symbolic rather than strategic. 'The key is what kinds of training will be provided to the new conscripts,' said Chieh. 'It's important to not let them feel they've wasted one year.' Another US official added that 'Taiwan is making good progress in enhancing the realism of training for reservists, but still has work to do in updating their equipment and reforming the organization of reserve units.' 'Retraining and equipping existing reservists to operate asymmetric platforms like drones and anti-air missiles will have an outsized impact on Taiwan's ability to deter conflict.' In a statement to CNN, the Defense Ministry said: 'Military service is a civic duty prescribed in the constitution. Any attempt to evade conscription by any means should be condemned and subject to legal actions.' It added that the new, extended one-year training period 'enables conscripts to undergo systematic and comprehensive military training, including enlistment, stationing, specialization, base training, and joint exercises – equipping them with essential combat skills and a firm resolve to defend the nation.' In nearby South Korea – another place marked by long-running hostility with its nearest neighbor – military service is taken a lot more seriously, and counting down the days until major celebrities will park their careers to don military fatigues has become something of a national pastime. Rather than damaging reputations, military service is often seen as a sign of integrity and patriotism in major stars – an impression that can enhance their careers after taking off the uniform. Earlier this month, K-pop superstars RM and V, from the band BTS, became the latest high-profile conscripts discharged from national service. They each saluted upon their release from duty in Chuncheon city, after about 18 months of active service, to the cheers of about 200 gathered fans – some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil. The other five members of the massively popular group either have completed or will complete the mandatory service, and the band expects to reunite within the next 12 months. Even soccer superstar Son Heung-min, who avoided conscription through an exemption after winning gold at the 2018 Asian Games with South Korea's national team, has taken four weeks of basic military training. For Taiwan to restore faith in conscription, military analysts say, it will need to reduce loopholes, improve instruction, and modernize training to reflect real threats – particularly as tensions with Beijing intensify. It will also, they say, need a cultural shift: one that values service not as empty symbolism, but as preparation for a possible fight. But it depends whether the recent reforms take root. 'The fear,' said one former conscript, 'is that the new system will look just like the old one – only longer.' CNN's Gawon Bae contributed reporting
CNN
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
A celebrity draft-dodging scandal lays bare problems with Taiwan's crucial reservist force
A draft-dodging scandal in Taiwan allegedly involving a number of actors, influencers, and musicians has cast an unflattering spotlight on the conscript and reservist forces which could one day stand between the island and a possible invasion by China. Taiwan's military service regime, which runs alongside its conventional military, faces accusations of failing to prepare conscripts for an actual war – an alarming situation against a drumbeat of threats from its giant neighbor. On Monday, authorities indicted 28 defendants. Prosecutors allege that, between 2016 and early this year, a four-person ring helped 24 healthy men dodge the draft by faking high blood pressure to gain a medical exemption, netting a total of 7.63 million Taiwanese dollars ($255,000). At least 11 celebrities are now under investigation. Among those indicted was the actor Darren Wang. The 34-year-old, launched to fame across the Chinese-speaking world a decade ago as a boyish heartthrob in teen romcom Our Times, was accused of paying 3.6 million Taiwanese dollars ($120,000) for a fake hypertension diagnosis. He has since begun military service, which is mandatory for men aged 19 to 36. CNN has reached out to Wang's representatives for comment, but did not receive a response. Such organized efforts to evade conscription are largely seen as a sign of people's apathy towards service, rather than their fear of military rough-and-tumble. 'What puts off the conscripts is not exhaustion from training, but the sense of waste of time,' Chieh Chung, an associate research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (NDSR), told CNN. 'Most of the time during the service is dedicated to miscellaneous tasks, and not actually combat-related.' Back in 1949, as the Nationalist government lost a bloody civil war against the insurgent Chinese Communist Party and fled to Taiwan, it introduced mandatory military service to the island, where eligible men would serve two years in the army or three years in the navy, air force or marines. The system, in one form or another, has been in place ever since – as have Beijing's designs on the island, which the Communist Party claims as its own territory, to be taken by force if necessary. But military service has long been seen as anything but heroic. Conscripts have described it as monotonous, disorganized and often irrelevant to modern warfare: a combination of indoor lectures, hours of waiting around, and outdated ceremonial drills. 'Not only are you not going to learn anything effective, you're going to fire a couple of bullets, sit through lectures, mow lawns, stand guard duty – all the things associated with a spit-and-polish military,' Mike Hunzeker, a former US Marine officer who has trained Taiwanese units, told CNN. US officials, not authorized to speak openly, quietly warn that Taiwan's reserve forces remain the soft underbelly of its defense posture. One official said millions of former conscripts exist 'on paper,' but years of truncated service and minimal refresher training have left them 'underprepared for modern warfare.' Past CNN interviews with former conscripts paint a bleak picture: decades-old rifles shared between units, cannon and mortar training with little or no live ammunition, and conscripts left idle or tasked with meaningless chores. While there are no official estimates for the number of illegal draft-dodgers, a tally by the Ministry of the Interior shows that, from 2021 to 2023, cases of suspected obstruction of military service have risen from 309 to 553. 'It is imperative to reform military service as quickly as possible,' said Wu Tzu-li, an associate research fellow at the INDSR. 'After all, the fight ultimately comes down to the people operating the weapons and not the weaponry itself, so having solid education and training is crucial.' Even Taiwan's leaders have acknowledged the problem. Shortly after taking office in 2016, former President Tsai Ing-wen called for sweeping reform, as opposed to 'papering over problems, wasting human resources, and operating inefficiently in so many different ways.' In response to growing security threats from Beijing, which conducted at least three large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last year, and sent warplanes, naval vessels and coast guards close to the island on a near-daily basis – Taiwan's government has extended training time for conscripts and introduced reforms such as more live-fire drills and an emphasis on modern tactics. As of January 2024, the minimum active-duty period was increased to one full year, up from just four months under the previous policy. These changes seem to be gradually bearing fruit. Alex Chang, a recent conscript in his mid-20s who spoke to CNN, observed that training has intensified since the extension of mandatory military service. 'The sounds of bullets firing and grenades exploding have been going non-stop on the training ground,' he said. The changes' effectiveness remains to be seen. Critics say that unless Taiwan revamps how – and what – soldiers are taught, young men will continue to view the draft as symbolic rather than strategic. 'The key is what kinds of training will be provided to the new conscripts,' said Chieh. 'It's important to not let them feel they've wasted one year.' Another US official added that 'Taiwan is making good progress in enhancing the realism of training for reservists, but still has work to do in updating their equipment and reforming the organization of reserve units.' 'Retraining and equipping existing reservists to operate asymmetric platforms like drones and anti-air missiles will have an outsized impact on Taiwan's ability to deter conflict.' In a statement to CNN, the Defense Ministry said: 'Military service is a civic duty prescribed in the constitution. Any attempt to evade conscription by any means should be condemned and subject to legal actions.' It added that the new, extended one-year training period 'enables conscripts to undergo systematic and comprehensive military training, including enlistment, stationing, specialization, base training, and joint exercises – equipping them with essential combat skills and a firm resolve to defend the nation.' In nearby South Korea – another place marked by long-running hostility with its nearest neighbor – military service is taken a lot more seriously, and counting down the days until major celebrities will park their careers to don military fatigues has become something of a national pastime. Rather than damaging reputations, military service is often seen as a sign of integrity and patriotism in major stars – an impression that can enhance their careers after taking off the uniform. Earlier this month, K-pop superstars RM and V, from the band BTS, became the latest high-profile conscripts discharged from national service. They each saluted upon their release from duty in Chuncheon city, after about 18 months of active service, to the cheers of about 200 gathered fans – some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil. The other five members of the massively popular group either have completed or will complete the mandatory service, and the band expects to reunite within the next 12 months. Even soccer superstar Son Heung-min, who avoided conscription through an exemption after winning gold at the 2018 Asian Games with South Korea's national team, has taken four weeks of basic military training. For Taiwan to restore faith in conscription, military analysts say, it will need to reduce loopholes, improve instruction, and modernize training to reflect real threats – particularly as tensions with Beijing intensify. It will also, they say, need a cultural shift: one that values service not as empty symbolism, but as preparation for a possible fight. But it depends whether the recent reforms take root. 'The fear,' said one former conscript, 'is that the new system will look just like the old one – only longer.' CNN's Gawon Bae contributed reporting
CNN
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
A celebrity draft-dodging scandal lays bare problems with Taiwan's crucial reservist force
A draft-dodging scandal in Taiwan allegedly involving a number of actors, influencers, and musicians has cast an unflattering spotlight on the conscript and reservist forces which could one day stand between the island and a possible invasion by China. Taiwan's military service regime, which runs alongside its conventional military, faces accusations of failing to prepare conscripts for an actual war – an alarming situation against a drumbeat of threats from its giant neighbor. On Monday, authorities indicted 28 defendants. Prosecutors allege that, between 2016 and early this year, a four-person ring helped 24 healthy men dodge the draft by faking high blood pressure to gain a medical exemption, netting a total of 7.63 million Taiwanese dollars ($255,000). At least 11 celebrities are now under investigation. Among those indicted was the actor Darren Wang. The 34-year-old, launched to fame across the Chinese-speaking world a decade ago as a boyish heartthrob in teen romcom Our Times, was accused of paying 3.6 million Taiwanese dollars ($120,000) for a fake hypertension diagnosis. He has since begun military service, which is mandatory for men aged 19 to 36. CNN has reached out to Wang's representatives for comment, but did not receive a response. Such organized efforts to evade conscription are largely seen as a sign of people's apathy towards service, rather than their fear of military rough-and-tumble. 'What puts off the conscripts is not exhaustion from training, but the sense of waste of time,' Chieh Chung, an associate research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (NDSR), told CNN. 'Most of the time during the service is dedicated to miscellaneous tasks, and not actually combat-related.' Back in 1949, as the Nationalist government lost a bloody civil war against the insurgent Chinese Communist Party and fled to Taiwan, it introduced mandatory military service to the island, where eligible men would serve two years in the army or three years in the navy, air force or marines. The system, in one form or another, has been in place ever since – as have Beijing's designs on the island, which the Communist Party claims as its own territory, to be taken by force if necessary. But military service has long been seen as anything but heroic. Conscripts have described it as monotonous, disorganized and often irrelevant to modern warfare: a combination of indoor lectures, hours of waiting around, and outdated ceremonial drills. 'Not only are you not going to learn anything effective, you're going to fire a couple of bullets, sit through lectures, mow lawns, stand guard duty – all the things associated with a spit-and-polish military,' Mike Hunzeker, a former US Marine officer who has trained Taiwanese units, told CNN. US officials, not authorized to speak openly, quietly warn that Taiwan's reserve forces remain the soft underbelly of its defense posture. One official said millions of former conscripts exist 'on paper,' but years of truncated service and minimal refresher training have left them 'underprepared for modern warfare.' Past CNN interviews with former conscripts paint a bleak picture: decades-old rifles shared between units, cannon and mortar training with little or no live ammunition, and conscripts left idle or tasked with meaningless chores. While there are no official estimates for the number of illegal draft-dodgers, a tally by the Ministry of the Interior shows that, from 2021 to 2023, cases of suspected obstruction of military service have risen from 309 to 553. 'It is imperative to reform military service as quickly as possible,' said Wu Tzu-li, an associate research fellow at the INDSR. 'After all, the fight ultimately comes down to the people operating the weapons and not the weaponry itself, so having solid education and training is crucial.' Even Taiwan's leaders have acknowledged the problem. Shortly after taking office in 2016, former President Tsai Ing-wen called for sweeping reform, as opposed to 'papering over problems, wasting human resources, and operating inefficiently in so many different ways.' In response to growing security threats from Beijing, which conducted at least three large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last year, and sent warplanes, naval vessels and coast guards close to the island on a near-daily basis – Taiwan's government has extended training time for conscripts and introduced reforms such as more live-fire drills and an emphasis on modern tactics. As of January 2024, the minimum active-duty period was increased to one full year, up from just four months under the previous policy. These changes seem to be gradually bearing fruit. Alex Chang, a recent conscript in his mid-20s who spoke to CNN, observed that training has intensified since the extension of mandatory military service. 'The sounds of bullets firing and grenades exploding have been going non-stop on the training ground,' he said. The changes' effectiveness remains to be seen. Critics say that unless Taiwan revamps how – and what – soldiers are taught, young men will continue to view the draft as symbolic rather than strategic. 'The key is what kinds of training will be provided to the new conscripts,' said Chieh. 'It's important to not let them feel they've wasted one year.' Another US official added that 'Taiwan is making good progress in enhancing the realism of training for reservists, but still has work to do in updating their equipment and reforming the organization of reserve units.' 'Retraining and equipping existing reservists to operate asymmetric platforms like drones and anti-air missiles will have an outsized impact on Taiwan's ability to deter conflict.' In a statement to CNN, the Defense Ministry said: 'Military service is a civic duty prescribed in the constitution. Any attempt to evade conscription by any means should be condemned and subject to legal actions.' It added that the new, extended one-year training period 'enables conscripts to undergo systematic and comprehensive military training, including enlistment, stationing, specialization, base training, and joint exercises – equipping them with essential combat skills and a firm resolve to defend the nation.' In nearby South Korea – another place marked by long-running hostility with its nearest neighbor – military service is taken a lot more seriously, and counting down the days until major celebrities will park their careers to don military fatigues has become something of a national pastime. Rather than damaging reputations, military service is often seen as a sign of integrity and patriotism in major stars – an impression that can enhance their careers after taking off the uniform. Earlier this month, K-pop superstars RM and V, from the band BTS, became the latest high-profile conscripts discharged from national service. They each saluted upon their release from duty in Chuncheon city, after about 18 months of active service, to the cheers of about 200 gathered fans – some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil. The other five members of the massively popular group either have completed or will complete the mandatory service, and the band expects to reunite within the next 12 months. Even soccer superstar Son Heung-min, who avoided conscription through an exemption after winning gold at the 2018 Asian Games with South Korea's national team, has taken four weeks of basic military training. For Taiwan to restore faith in conscription, military analysts say, it will need to reduce loopholes, improve instruction, and modernize training to reflect real threats – particularly as tensions with Beijing intensify. It will also, they say, need a cultural shift: one that values service not as empty symbolism, but as preparation for a possible fight. But it depends whether the recent reforms take root. 'The fear,' said one former conscript, 'is that the new system will look just like the old one – only longer.' CNN's Gawon Bae contributed reporting
