Taiwan Extends Military Service from 4 Months to 1 Year Due to China Threat and Low Birthrate

Introduction of Conscription System in 2018 with Minimum 4-Month Military Training
Impact on Troop Reduction and China's Military Demonstrations... Affecting Those Born from 2006

Taiwan is pushing to extend the mandatory military service period from 4 months to 1 year. The increase in threats from China and the decrease in enlistment due to low birth rates are cited as reasons for the extension.

According to Liberty Times and others on the 25th (local time), the Taiwanese government is promoting a plan to extend the military service period for its male citizens from the current 4 months to 1 year. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is expected to convene a high-level national security meeting on the 27th to decide on the extension and announce it personally.

After follow-up measures by the Executive Yuan and the Legislative Yuan (parliament) and a full Executive Yuan meeting on the 30th, detailed information is expected to be explained at a press conference. If the related announcement is made within this year, the military service period will be extended starting with those born in 2006 who turn 18 in 2024, one year later. The monthly salary for enlisted soldiers will also be adjusted from 6,500 Taiwan dollars to 15,000 Taiwan dollars (approximately 620,000 KRW).

Taiwanese soldiers are seen carrying firearms while moving during a live-fire exercise conducted on October 19 on Penghu Island in the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and China. This exercise took place amid rising tensions between Taiwan and China.

This measure was made possible because the maximum period that can be set without amending the current Military Service Act is 1 year.

Since the Taiwanese military implemented an all-volunteer system in December 2018, it has been struggling with a shortage of male volunteers. As of 2021, Taiwan’s birth rate was about 0.98, forecasting a sharp decline in military personnel.

Meanwhile, as China’s military demonstrations have intensified every year and concerns about a Chinese invasion have become more palpable due to the Ukraine war, voices calling for strengthening national defense have emerged. The need is to respond to China’s military pressure and improve soldiers’ proficiency.

Under the current system, the minimum military training includes 2 months of basic military training and 2 months of military specialty training, which is interpreted as the effective disappearance of conscription.

Since the Kuomintang government fled from the mainland to Taiwan after losing to the Communist Party in 1949, Taiwan operated a military service system requiring 2 to 3 years of service starting in 1951. In 2008, the service period was reduced to 1 year, adopting a mixed system of conscription and volunteer enlistment.

Then, after switching to a volunteer system in 2018, the military service system was improved so that men only receive 4 months of mandatory training. Prior to this discussion, the Taiwanese military had prepared a volunteer system where volunteers serve for 5 years as the most efficient option, but ultimately chose the more feasible option of extending the military service period.

Su Tseng-chang, Premier of Taiwan’s Executive Yuan, signaled the revival of conscription in April, saying, “One must protect their own country.” At that time, Premier Su said, “There is no need for a reason when an authoritarian regime invades a democratic country,” and added, “We respect the Ministry of National Defense’s professional evaluation and judgment on the methods to save the country and the appropriateness of training and service periods.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.