In order to address practical considerations due to personnel reductions in Taiwan's armed forces, the Ministry of the Interior (under which the Department of Conscription functions) began in 1996 to study the feasibility of domestic alternatives to military service. In January 2000, the government passed the Alternative Service Law, whereby selected men in Taiwan were able to fulfill their prescribed national duties in Taiwanese government and nongovernmental, social, community service, and environmental agencies.


President Chen Shui-bian gave this program a new slant in August 2000 when he broached the idea of a diplomatic (overseas, as opposed to domestic) alternative to military service. President Chen thoughtfully foresaw that a new corps of "peace volunteers" would help relieve a shortage of personnel in the nation's overseas technical and medical missions - which form one of the pillars of Taiwanese diplomacy. The people of Taiwan, government agencies and the TaiwanICDF enthusiastically embraced President Chen's suggestion.


The creation of the Overseas Alternative Service was a milestone in Taiwan's diplomatic history and TaiwanICDF international development efforts. These dutiful young men will form the foundation of this productive and peaceful use of national resources, not only paving the way for the servicemen who come after them, but also supplying TaiwanICDF missions and Taiwan's embassies and representative offices around the world with new expertise and fresh enthusiasm in coming months and years.

The name of the service was formally changed to the "Taiwan Youth Overseas Service" in early 2003.

Recent TaiwanICDF articles about the Taiwan Youth Overseas Service:

Behind the Scenes of the ROC Overseas Alternative Service Program
An interview with Director Huang Nan-huei, and Section Chief Chang Fu-heng, lead developers of the ROC Overseas Alternative Service Program. Published December 2001 in International Cooperation and Development #31, the TaiwanICDF semiannual report.

New Spirit: Taiwanese Volunteers and Alternative Servicemen Inject New Energy into ICDF Projects and Programs
TaiwanICDF Volunteers and conscripts in Taiwan's Overseas Alternative Service program are providing fresh talent and skills to TaiwanICDF overseas missions. Published September 2001 in International Cooperation and Development #30, the TaiwanICDF semiannual report.

Light In Every Corner of Burkina Faso By Overseas Alternative Service recruit Lien Chia-en. Published June 2002 in International Cooperation and Development #32, the TaiwanICDF report.