"At present, most of the public opinion thinks that the service should be extended. Thisis perhaps caused by a sense that China's military threat is growing," said Ian Tsung-yen Chen, an associate professor at the National Sun Yat-sen University.
By announcing the changes now, Tsai's administration will allow some of the publicbacklash to "settle and ferment," and the risk of hurting DPP's electoral prospects willbe reduced, he added.
"If China continues to harass Taiwan next year, or scale up the level [of aggression],then the extension of the military service period will be even more justified, and theimpact on the election should be limited," Chen told Nikkei Asia.
More than from the length of service, Taiwan's public is concerned about whether thedraft will have a substantial impact on national defense, "rather than the serviceexperience of my generation, which thinks that being a soldier is a lie and a waste oflife," Chen said.
If conscription helps improve Taiwan's actual combat capabilities, people will likely bemore supportive of the government's defense policy, he noted.