Conscription in Manchuria

Conscription in Manchuria is enforced. Men are universally conscripted while women are allowed to volunteer. Conscription takes place at age 18 and lasts for two years. Those who are physically and mentally handicapped are actually technically not exempt de-jure; they are considered to be "invalidated soldiers" by the military code, though they are in practice exempted and only sometimes required. People convicted of criminal offenses are exempted, but because of general policy of Manchurian society as a militarized society, they are instead allowed to serve in penal military units; Manchuria is the only country that practices such policy, and is considered controversial. Recruitment is done on the basis of annual targets drawn up by the Defense Ministry and implemented locally by schools.

Conscription first began during the Manchukuo era and continued to this day.