n late September, Min Yoon-gi, renowned as Suga from the globally celebrated Korean pop sensation BTS, embarked on a significant life journey as he entered a Korean military training camp to fulfill his obligatory military service, a tradition for South Korean males aged 18 to 28 since 1957. This mandatory service underscores the unique geopolitical challenges South Korea faces, especially with a rogue nuclear power to its north.

South Korea's proximity to communist North Korea necessitates a well-prepared defense force. By contrast, Filipinos, have lived under a protective defense alliance with the United States and thus spared the need for mandatory military service. The Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines ensured our security, for over seven decades.

However, the global landscape has evolved dramatically in the last twenty years. The People's Republic of China has emerged as a major global power, amassing both wealth and military might, and has shown a desire to assert its dominance and challenge the existing global order.

Regrettably, the Philippines now faces this formidable neighbor that lays territorial claims to our globally recognized lands. In the past year, Communist China has employed force and intimidation to deny Filipinos access to their rightful possessions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

In response to China's actions and in line with other Asian nations like South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, the Philippines must now consider instituting mandatory conscription for both Filipino men and women. As a nation, we must all realize that the defense of our homeland is every Filipino's duty.

This call for action extends beyond Vice President Sara Duterte's advocacy for the revival of ROTC in schools. President Bongbong Marcos and his administration should take a bold step forward and implement a draft for young men and women to serve in the armed forces of the Philippines. The time has come for the next generation of Filipinos to actively participate in safeguarding their nation.

Implementing mandatory military service will not only enhance our national defense but also cultivate a more disciplined, better-educated, and more united population. Filipinos will have the wherewithal to protect their country and in so doing, foster its prosperity.

As we navigate a fast-changing world, the Philippines must prepare itself to face new challenges head-on. Mandatory military service is a crucial step toward ensuring our nation's sovereignty and security in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.

Published 10/11/2023