The Taiwan military manpower shortage continues to worsen despite efforts to expand recruitment, with a significant gap in those willing to serve, according to a report.
Only about 80% of Taiwan’s voluntary military recruitment targets have been met.
Between 2022 and 2024, approximately 12,000 soldiers left the military, raising concerns among government officials.
Discussions on allowing foreign migrants to enlist have resurfaced, though no official decision has been made on the long-debated issue.
A key factor in the shortage is Taiwan’s declining birthrate, the second lowest in Asia after South Korea.
Despite competitive military salaries, many Taiwanese still prefer opportunities in the private sector.
Dr. Chang Ching, a senior research fellow at the R.O.C. Society for Strategic Studies and a former naval officer, noted that in the past 25 years, no legislative committee has passed a resolution to address the problem.
Chang also questioned Taiwan’s citizens’ willingness to sacrifice in the event of war.
“Using migrant workers as mercenaries would only highlight how few Taiwanese are willing to fight—even to preserve the status quo,” said Dr. Chang.
Meanwhile, China continues to strengthen its air and sea defense zones near Taiwan.
Taiwan’s military service policies have significantly changed over the years.
From the 1950s to 2000, all men were required to serve at least two years in the military.
As Taiwan fully transitioned into a democratic state, the government gradually reduced mandatory military service.
By 2013, the compulsory service period had been shortened to just four months of training.
In 2022, former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen reinstated a one-year mandatory service starting in 2024, a policy supported by the current Lai administration, drawing Beijing’s scrutiny.
Another factor affecting recruitment is Taiwan’s 2018 pension reform, which reduced military pensions by 15% to 20% to prevent financial insolvency in the armed forces.
While many Taiwanese supported the reform, Dr. Chang argued that pension cuts have discouraged families with a history of military service from encouraging younger generations to enlist.
“When veterans tell their grandchildren, ‘Don’t sign up—they won’t keep their promises to you,’ that carries weight,” Chang suggested.