Artists apologizing outside court
Artists William and Chen Datian apologize to the public after admitting involvement in a military service evasion scheme.

New Taipei City, Taiwan – A sweeping case involving multiple prominent artists admitting to offenses related to evading Taiwan’s mandatory military service concluded a meaningful court hearing today. Eight individuals, including well-known figures, have pleaded guilty, exposing a sophisticated operation that exploited loopholes and involved fraudulent medical certifications.

The Scheme Unravels

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The investigation, initiated earlier this year following scrutiny of artist Wang Dalu’s case, revealed a network orchestrated by Chen Zhiming. Prosecutors allege that Chen Zhiming, leveraging his own medical exemption due to hypertension, facilitated a scheme that spanned nearly a decade, from 2016 to 2024.The operation involved instructing conscripts on techniques to manipulate blood pressure tests and employing intermediaries to falsely register elevated readings.

The New Taipei District Prosecutor’s office initially investigated 28 individuals. Today’s hearing focused on the first group of eight artists, including William and Chen Datian, who publicly apologized for their actions outside the courthouse. Both expressed remorse for undermining the principles of fair service and pledged to accept the legal consequences.

Confessions and Details Emerge

During the court proceedings, William detailed his involvement, admitting to temporarily relinquishing control of a 24-hour blood pressure monitor to an associate linked to the scheme for the duration of examination. He further revealed he later made payments totaling between NT$400,000 and NT$500,000 to an individual identified as Sue Chen involved in the scheme. His legal counsel introduced medical documentation supporting a pre-existing immune condition.

Teddy (Chen Xiangxi), a former member of the boy band SpeXial, testified that he was initially led to believe by Chen zhiming that a “legal loophole” existed for those with secondary hypertension. He remitted NT$250,000, only to realize the scheme’s illegality when asked to have someone else operate his blood pressure machine during testing.

Prosecutors argued against lenient sentencing, highlighting the widespread nature of draft evasion and the potential for similar offenses to continue. They emphasized that granting suspended sentences could encourage others to attempt such schemes.The court will deliberate on whether to grant a simplified trial procedure.

Broader Implications and National Service in Taiwan

Taiwan’s conscription system has been a subject of ongoing debate. Currently, all eligible male citizens are required to serve a period of mandatory military service. Recent geopolitical tensions in the region have renewed discussions around service length and eligibility criteria. According to official statistics from Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, approximately 20,000 individuals are drafted annually.

This case reflects a growing concern regarding inequities within the system and the potential for abuse. The Ministry of National Defense announced in September 2024, stricter vetting procedures for medical exemptions, including independant verification of diagnoses and increased penalties for fraudulent claims. Ministry of National Defense

Suspect Alleged Involvement Payment (NT$)
William Relinquished blood pressure monitor control; payments to intermediary 400,000 – 500,000
Teddy (Chen Xiangxi) Paid for access to alleged “legal loophole”; used proxy for testing. 250,000
Chen Lingjiu Involved in scheme; pleaded guilty Unknown
Chen Datian Involved in scheme; pleaded guilty Unknown

Did You Know? Taiwan transitioned to an all-volunteer military force in 2018, but maintains a conscription system for reserve forces and specific roles.

Pro Tip: Individuals facing legal challenges related to military service should seek counsel from qualified legal professionals specializing in Taiwanese law.

What are your thoughts on the fairness of mandatory military service? Do you think stricter penalties are an effective deterrent against evasion schemes?