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Emerald Hill actor Xiu Jie Kai, 42, paid S$6,334 to fake high blood pressure to evade Taiwan military service
He was among a dozen or so individuals who were rounded up by the Taiwan authorities.
October 22, 2025, 12:46 PM
Taiwanese actor Xiu Jie Kai, who starred in the Mediacorp series "Emerald Hill", has admitted to paying NT$150,000 (S$6,334) to fake having high blood pressure in a bid to be exempted from military service.
The 42-year-old was arrested on Oct. 21 for allegedly evading military service.
As per Taiwan media reports, he confessed to paying to pretend to have high blood pressure in an attempt to be declared unfit for service.
He was deemed eligible for alternative service after a medical examination.
He had intended to pursue a full exemption, but gave up and enlisted.
At age 33 in June 2016, Xiu served as an anti-drug ambassador with the New Taipei City Civil Affairs Bureau.
He was granted early discharge after five months as his wife, actress Alyssa Chia, was pregnant with their second child.
Taiwan allows servicemen who have two children under 12, or one child under 12 and a spouse over six months pregnant, to apply for early discharge.
Others rounded up
Xiu was among 10 individuals taken into custody for questioning on Tuesday.
The other high-profile celebrities included actor Chen Bolin, 42, and singer Chang Shuwei, 44, a member of boyband Energy that was famous in the 2000s and had reunited in 2023, which saw them become popular again.
Chen clarified in 2011 that his military exemption was due to asthma and that he had not tried to dodge serving.
Prosecutors re-examined his past medical records and Chen said he felt relieved now that he has been detained as he was mentally preparing for this moment.
Taiwan authorities have been investigating a "military evasion ring" that falsify medical records to avoid mandatory military service after February’s probe involving actor Wang Ta Lu.
In May, other artistes, such as Daniel Chen, Jushe Lee of boyband Choc7, and singer Nine Chen, were arrested.
Chang was diagnosed with hereditary thalassemia, which he claimed causes him to feel dizzy or faint when in a car, or when he stands up after squatting for a while.
Top photos via ETtoday and @lefthere036/Instagram
