00:03Resignation and elation. These young men have just been drafted into the Thai
00:08military or avoided it. Every April, public schools, government offices and
00:13temple halls across Thailand fill up with the nervous families and friends of
00:1721 year old men. It's the annual conscription lottery and the rules are
00:23simple. Pull a red card and pack up for boot camp. Pull a black one and you go
00:29back to your old life. I'm okay with either outcome. I leave it to
00:34fate because if I get a red card then I go join the military but if not then I
00:38continue working. It's not that difficult. It's only two years.
00:42Giao Gum did indeed draw red and he's in the army now. His dad doesn't seem worried.
00:50My son is a friendly guy and has discipline. I think him joining the
00:53military will be better for him. Thais can volunteer for military service often for
00:58terms of around a year. But if district quotas aren't met then it's up to chance
01:03and selection means two years of service. Thailand's lottery system is unique but
01:08the country is not alone in Asia in having compulsory military service. In South
01:13Korea, male citizens are required to serve 18 to 21 months. In Singapore, it's two
01:19years of service in the armed forces, police or civil defense. The Vietnam
01:24People's Army drafts all men for two years. And in Taiwan, men must now serve a
01:30year, up from the previous four months of duty, a change made in 2024 to face the
01:35growing threats from China. There are exemptions for health and continuing
01:40education and draft dodging is punished. A recent spate of prosecutions in Taiwan
01:46have seen several entertainers jailed. Back in Thailand, the lottery system has its critics.
01:51I think it's better for people to volunteer. Some people have a stable job and they get
01:58a red ticket, then their family may be in trouble because of the loss of income.
02:02Possible loss of income is one reason why many people are overjoyed to see a black card. And
02:09joining the Thai military right now comes with real danger. Months of cross-border fighting
02:14with Cambodia in 2025 left dozens dead on both sides. A fragile ceasefire now holds. But with
02:21life and livelihood in the balance, many young Thais would rather stay out of uniform.
02:27I was so happy. What a relief.
02:30Thailand's main opposition People's Party seeks to abolish the conscription lottery and
02:35replace it with a fully volunteer army. But in a country where the civilian government is toppled
02:41by a military coup on average every seven to eight years, Thailand's young men know they
02:47can't always bet on black. John Tsu and Jonathan Kaplan for Taiwan Plus.
02:52Texas A football club
02:53theееıldaly 2nd
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