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The Associated Press

Taiwan increases its compulsory military service as it faces pressure from China

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during Tuesday's announcement of the extension of the island's compulsory military service. (Huizhong Wu/AP)

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan will extend its compulsory military service from four months to a year starting in 2024, President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday, as the self-ruled island faces China's military, diplomatic and trade pressure.

Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 during a civil war, is claimed by China. The decades-old threat of invasion by China into the self-governed island has sharpened since China cut off communications with the island's government after the 2016 election of Tsai, who is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party and seen by Beijing as pro-independence.

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