Taiwan Extends Military Service... "Female Veterans Also to Undergo Reserve Training"

Local Media "Female Discharged Soldiers Also Undergo Reserve Forces Training"
Military Service Period Extended from 4 Months to 1 Year

Taiwan, which has extended its mandatory military service period to one year, is reported to also call female veterans for reserve forces training.

On the 29th, according to Taiwanese media such as China Times and United Daily News, Chiu Kuo-cheng, Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, revealed this during a meeting with opposition party Legislative Yuan members from the New Power Party to request smooth follow-up measures related to the extension of military service.

Regarding the New Power Party legislator's proposal that women should also be included in the reserve forces call-up, Minister Chiu explained that he is aware that some women wish to participate in reserve training, but the military is not yet fully prepared.

He added that the military has already established related plans and intends to pilot the program next year with several dozen personnel or a company-sized unit before expanding it.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen wearing military uniform

Taiwanese media reported that female veterans within eight years of discharge are eligible to participate in reserve forces training.

However, the training duration is undecided, with proposals including "once a year for 14 days" or "once every two years for 5 to 7 days," according to the media.

Meanwhile, amid escalating threats from China, the Taiwanese government has decided to extend the mandatory military service period from four months to one year starting January 1, 2024.

It also announced that the monthly salary for conscripts will be increased from the current 6,510 New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 270,000 KRW) to 20,320 New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 840,000 KRW).

The expanded mandatory service period is expected to apply to males born on or after January 1, 2005.

Tai Ing-wen, Taiwan's President, stated that this decision was made to strengthen Taiwan's combat readiness against potential attacks from China.

She emphasized, "As long as Taiwan is strong enough, it will remain a global bastion of democracy and freedom, not a battlefield."

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