A young sailor on Taiwan's navy frigate Chi Kuang has been sentenced to six months in prison for hitting a superior officer, a case that highlights how badly some recruits struggle with military life.

• A radar seaman who enlisted in late 2023 swung at a lieutenant's chest after being questioned about missing a meeting.
• The officer dodged the punch and two crewmates pulled her back; she left the navy three days later.
• Prosecutors charged her under military law for violence against a superior, and a Penghu court handed down six months.
• A hospital evaluation found she had developed schizophrenia and that her ability to control her actions was sharply reduced.
• The court cut her sentence because of the diagnosis, her guilty plea, and her clean record, but said the attack damaged discipline on board.

Outlook: The sentence can still be appealed, and the case adds to pressure on Taiwan's military to screen recruits for mental health as it expands its forces.