Questioned on suspicion of evading mandatory military draft, 33-year-old Taiwanese actor Darren Wang Talu (王大陸) was one of eleven arrested amid heightened scrutiny. The idol's news quickly became the top trending topic on Chinese platform Weibo, igniting netizens' avid discussions and scrutiny of Taiwanese celebrities who have dodged military draft on various reasons.
Also being investigated for alleged falsifying of a medical document, Wang had his apartment searched on February 18, and was allowed release on a NTD$150,000 bail.
The conscription age in Taiwan is 18, with deferment granted for higher education, though all men are required to serve in the military for one year by age 36.
Vic Chou: Depression
Born in 1981, singer and actor Vic Chou (周渝民) requested exemption from military drafts on grounds of depression during his medical checkup in 2002, but was unsuccessful. In 2005, his appeal to the Taipei authorities was again rejected. Two years later, the star moved to Keelung city, where his application received approval.
Jay Chou: Medically Unfit
Mandopop king Jay Chou, born 1979, also submitted documentation proving he suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune disease that primarily affects spinal joints and causes back pain. Taipei local authorities approved his appeal after verifying his medical condition. Although Jay's medical condition was widely doubted by the public - he was blacklisted at one point - the singer insisted that he suffered intense pain worse than menstrual cramps during attacks, and could only continue with a basketball competition during a 2013 attack after receiving an injection and taking medication.
Show Luo, Mayday's Ashin, Blue Lan: Flat Feet
Asian king of dance Show Luo (羅志祥) was exempted on grounds of flat feet, which leaves him unable to walk or stand for long periods, in addition to a mild heart condition of mitral prolapse; street-dancing since he was 15 also allegedly caused damage to his knee cartilage and he was diagnosed with a condition called Gluteal Fibrotic Contracture. Rock band Mayday's (五月天) frontman Ashin (阿信) withdrew from military draft after four months due to flat feet, while actor Lan Zheng-lung (藍正龍) was required to serve for only 45 days due to flat feet during his physical check-up for service.
Ming Dao: Further Studies
Popular actor Ming Dao's (Matthew Lin 明道) alleged delays in reporting for military duty was also widely chronicled and discussed, after he enrolled in five colleges over eleven years (he completed only X out of 63 credits). In 2011, authorities tightened conscription rules by adding the provision that those who study in institutions below college level should not be older than 28 when they ask for a delay.