Kaoh Shun, Taiwan: As China continues and strengthens its invasion campaign against the island, the Taiwanese military is struggling to achieve its recruitment targets for its professional staff, and the challenges to reverse this situation are formidable.
Between 2022 and 2024, approximately 12,000 services left the Taiwanese army. Both government and military officials have expressed concern, and once again there is talk of foreign migrants enlisting in the military.
The easiest reason for drop-off is mathematics. This voluntary democracy has the second lowest birth rate in Asia, after Korea. Military wages could improve, but are generally considered competitive. Low morale often dies excessively, but is a factor as well as strong competition with the private sector.
Taiwan dispatches navy and air force after China begins live action training without warning
On Wednesday, July 26th, 2023, soldiers marched along the streets during Han Kuan military exercises held in West Tian, ​​Taiwan. (Photographer: i-hwa cheng/bloomberg via Getty Images)
“They have been talking about the “immigrant army” for nearly a quarter of a century, but even one official panel or committee are not approaching examining ideas,” Dr. Jang Chin, a senior researcher at the ROC Strategic Research Association who served in the Navy for decades, told Fox News Digital.
“When I see it, I confess indifferently to the truth. Most Taiwanese people are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to win the war. The migrant workers, essentially working as mercenaries, only emphasize that a small number of our citizens simply maintain the status quo of independence,” Chang said.
Taiwan needs a strong army to stop its hostile neighbors about 100 miles to the west. In recent years, China has been trying to narrow down Taiwan both the bold threats and intrusions into Taiwan’s air and ocean defense zones.
Taiwanese draft will cut hair at a military base in Taiwan on January 25th, 2024. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)
Christopher Clifford of the United States is well known in Taiwan as the YouTuber “Aundle Topher.” His resume is a major reason why around 112,000 Taiwanese people often see his videos on geopolitics. Over 20 years ago, Uncle Tocker was Christopher Clifford’s major tain in the US 101 Airborne category. By serving during the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, he has come closer to the challenges of invasion and the challenges of more difficult occupation.
Speaking to Kaohsiung City’s Fox News Digital, Clifford said much of his content was intended to challenge “the sensationalism of Chinese invasion.” He often points out to viewers that as a result of China’s now-reversed “one-child policy,” Chinese men of combat age are generally highly regarded “sons only.” More importantly, Clifford says that war is the economic fees that the planets and not just the region.
Trump Cabinets will delight Taiwan, sending strong signals to China
Taiwanese military is conducting landing prevention drills on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 during the annual Han Kuan military exercise near New Taipei, Taiwan. (Taiwan Ministry of Defense)
He said the decline in the number of troops was a problem, but noted that most modern troops, including China, face difficulties in enlisting and maintaining. “Taiwanese military is making much-needed changes: allowing tattoos and fixing insane height restrictions,” he said. “If it was above 6′, I wouldn’t be able to participate before.”
However, Clifford sees a future where war unfolds with drones and keyboards. “Cyberattacks and misinformation are greater threats than the Normandy PRC version. People are comparing Taiwan to Ukraine. However, Taiwan is almost not comparable to Ukraine or any other conflict zone on Earth.”
Many debates are about whether the US will step in if China attempts to invade or blockade. “Of course, I understand the logic behind the US policy of strategic ambiguity, but I fear that too many Taiwanese people, especially young people, are relying on rescue from Uncle Sam,” explained Chang.
He is not optimistic about replenishing the ranks, explaining that pension cuts for Taiwanese military personnel, who retired in 2018, “allied the key pillars of the family of Taiwanese families who had a tradition of service.” China comes from ancestors, but they listen when Grandpa says, “Don’t break the care of you like they did to me.”
The RF-16 fighter jet will drop flares on May 30, 2019 during a live-action Hankuan military exercise simulating the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Pingtun, Taiwan. (Reuters/Tyrone SIU)
In 2018, the Taiwanese government said the entire pension program would go bankrupt without cuts, and many Taiwanese agreed to a decision to cut what was considered disproportionately high military pensions. However, those who opposed the cut saw it as betrayal.
Taiwan FM welcomes the importance of our relationship, and the group visit says “contributes to peace and stability.”
From the 1950s to the early 2000s, Taiwanese men served as conscription for at least two years. However, when Taiwan graduated to a full democracy, both major political parties in Taiwan worked to reduce (and ultimately eliminate) mandatory military service. By 2013, conscription was a condensed four-month “boot camp.”
In 2022, then-President Tsai Ing-Wen announced his return to service requirements for a year prior to 2013. Some were unfortunate, but there were no major protests or efforts to reverse the effective decision in January 2024. Lai has been openly spooked by Beijing, and his relations with China have deteriorated since his election victory.
Taiwan’s conscription is being highlighted when Taiwan’s President Leichete visited a military base in Taiwan on June 28, 2024. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)
Government statistics show that over 800,000 migrant workers (mainly from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines) live on the island. Again, the idea has emerged again that some of them could be solutions to replenish ranks.
Clifford believes that although it’s not an easy task, there’s a way to make it work in exchange for what’s probably the equivalent of an American green card. “They can start with foreign mechanics, engineers, chefs, etc. Peace supports construction projects and disaster relief. During the war, they are responsible for setting up other defenses. No rifles are needed.”
Click here to get the Fox News app
The United States is Taiwan’s strongest ally and its main weapons supplier. President Lai says he wants to persuade Congress to significantly increase his defense spending. According to the Cato Institute, Taiwan is already waiting to buy a US arm worth $22 billion. However, the lack of adequately trained people to use these weapons can be a more serious problem than a big backlog.
