Military Headcount Up by 10,000 as Recruitment Exceeds Targets

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan’s armed forces now have about 10,000 more personnel than in 2021, with this year’s recruitment goals already surpassed. The military plans to continue expanding its ranks, as manpower remains a key focus amid rising defense spending and mounting pressure from China’s military.

Transcript

00:00Here in Taipei, Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo is answering questions from

00:05lawmakers about the Armed Forces' latest personnel figures. Before the meeting, Koo struck an

00:10optimistic tone on the Armed Forces' recruitment and retention efforts, despite some difficulties.

00:16For the first time in more than a decade, Taiwan's military is no longer downsizing.

00:21The Armed Forces now have 10,000 more personnel than in 2021,

00:26bringing the total to nearly 230,000 according to local media reports.

00:30With a population of 23.5 million, that's roughly one service member for every 100 people.

00:35Compared to two years ago, there are 3,000 more active duty troops,

00:39but with new budgets and projects, there are around 10,000 additional positions to be filled.

00:46This year, enlistees have already exceeded the ministry's recruitment target,

00:50with more potentially on the way.

00:55As Taiwan's birth rate continues to decline, the Defense Ministry must balance reality

01:17with its ambitions to effectively defend the country from China,

01:20which claims Taiwan and says it will take the country by force if necessary.

01:26That means to meet its goals, Taiwan will need to step up recruitment

01:29and offer more benefits to those already in service.

01:32This year, Taiwan President Lai Qingde moved to increase the defense budget,

01:38and the government extended conscription from four months to one year.

01:56Much of the focus on President Lai's defense policy has been on the bigger budget and more modern equipment,

02:02either made in Taiwan or bought from the U.S.

02:05But in the end, personnel form the backbone of these plans,

02:08and the government wants to ensure it can fill its ranks.

02:11John Tsu and Larry Siano in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.

02:14John Tsu and Larry Siano in Taipei for Taiwan

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