ALTERNATIVE (NON-MILITARY) SERVICE IN TAIWAN: LEGAL REGULATION AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS WITH THE UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34132/pard2025.29.01Keywords:
religious organizations, freedom of conscience, alternative service, religious beliefs, legal regulation, national security, military service, Taiwan.Abstract
This article presents a comprehensive study of the system of alternative (non-military) service in the Republic of China (Taiwan), with a particular focus on its specialized forms-namely, the R&D Substitute Service and the Industry Training Substitute Service. The author examines the legal and organizational mechanisms underlying these forms of service, including the procedures for competitive selection of institutions authorized to host conscripts, the criteria for evaluating operational plans and scientific achievements, and the system of quota allocation. Special attention is given to the analysis of socio-legal guarantees for individuals undergoing alternative service in Taiwan, particularly regarding job retention, preservation of academic status, access to medical care, financial assistance, and social security. The article also explores the legal grounds for service suspension, mechanisms for changing the place of service, and the duties imposed on conscripts, including the oath of allegiance and confidentiality obligations. As part of a comparative analysis, the study examines key aspects of the Ukrainian model of alternative service, including the procedure for its implementation, labor guarantees, financial provisions, and liability for non-compliance. The findings reveal the absence of uniform standards for remuneration in Ukraine, leading to substantial disparities between military personnel and individuals performing alternative service under fixed-term labor contracts. Several systemic issues are identified, including the lack of clear procedures for transferring conscripts between institutions, insufficient social protection, the absence of compensation mechanisms for injury or illness, and inadequate sanctions for evasion of service. The results of the study confirm the advanced institutional and legal framework of Taiwan’s alternative service system, which may serve as an effective model for Ukraine. Based on this, the article offers practical recommendations for integrating selected elements of the Taiwanese system into Ukrainian legislation, taking into account national legal, cultural, and security contexts-particularly in the context of the ongoing war and the urgent need to balance defense imperatives with the protection of human rights.
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