Taiwan Air Force Staff Sgt. Jiang Pin-shiuan's pitch to freshmen at Taipei's Tamkang University seemed compelling: join the island's armed forces and get a state-sponsored degree, 110 days of leave each year and annual savings of 312,500 New Taiwan dollars ($10,200).
But many students who were listening showed little interest, arguing national service was a "waste of time" and prospects of the self-ruled island standing up economically or militarily to an increasingly aggressive China were slim.
"China could simply crush Taiwan with its economic power. There's no need for a war, which wastes money," said 18-year-old Chen Fang-yi, an engineering major. "I do not have much confidence and expectation for the national army."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.