Emerald Hill actor Xiu Jie Kai, 42, arrested for allegedly evading military service in Taiwan

Taiwanese actor Xiu Jie Kai has reportedly been arrested for evading military service.

According to Taiwan news media outlet SET News, authorities recently conducted their third round of investigations into individuals suspected of avoiding compulsory military service.

During this operation in October 2025, it was revealed that the 42-year-old actor had enlisted in the military in May 2016, but served only five months before receiving an early discharge for what was described as "a specific reason".

Discharged early due to wife's pregnancy

According to ETtoday, Xiu enlisted on May 12, 2016, and was assigned to the New Taipei City Civil Affairs Bureau the following month in June to perform substitute service.

In Taiwan, substitute service allows eligible men to complete their national service in non-military roles, such as with government agencies or social welfare organisations.

During his time at the bureau, he also served as an anti-drug campaign spokesperson.

However, Xiu applied for an early discharge after his wife, Taiwanese actress Alyssa Chia, became pregnant with their second child.

Under the "Regulations for Early Discharge of Alternate Service Personnel", male conscripts with two or more children under 12, or with one child and whose spouse is at least six months pregnant, may apply for early release.

Given his circumstances, after completing five months of substitute service, Xiu was discharged on Nov. 29, 2016.

Emerald Hill actor

Having debuted in 2003 with a strong supporting role in the Taiwanese drama Friends, Xiu gained widespread recognition through other dramas, such as Mars (2005), Black & White (2008), and K.O. 3an Guo (2009).

He recently gained more fame in Singapore for his role as Zhang Jin He, the second son of the Zhang family, in the 2025 The Little Nyonya spin-off, Emerald Hill.

The series premiered in Singapore on Mar. 10, attracting over 1.67 million viewers on Mediacorp Channel 8 and meWATCH, not including global and regional audiences.

Emerald Hill also made history as the first Mediacorp Chinese drama to debut at number one on Netflix Singapore.

Xiu and his wife have two daughters nicknamed Bubu, 10, and Bobo, eight.

According to 8days, he is also the stepfather of Angelina, 18, Chia's daughter from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Sun Zhihao.

Top photos via ETtoday and @lefthere036/Instagram