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Tuesday 10 March 2009
Taiwan on track to end conscription
Taiwan is aiming to have a professional military force in five years. The military restructuring is expected to reduce troop numbers from the current 250,000
Restructuring of its military comes amid reduced tensions with China
By Ho Ai Li 10 March 2009
TAIPEI: - Taiwan is on track to say goodbye to military conscription and hello to a professional military force in five years, said the island’s Defence Minister.
Mr. Chen Chao-min also stressed that a planned think-tank for military exchanges would be global-oriented and was not a cover for initiating contact with mainland China.
Speaking at a legislature briefing yesterday, he said that with the economic downturn, the military has seen better-than-expected recruitment of regulars.
If all goes to plan, by end-2014, Taiwanese males above 18 would no longer have to do military service for a year, as they do now.
Instead, they would go for training for just four months and be in the reservist force until age 35. With that would come the end of conscription as practised in Taiwan for the past six decades.
The military restructuring, which is expected to reduce troop numbers from 250,000 now, comes amid reduced tensions with China.
In a related development, Taiwanese media reported that the Defence Ministry was looking to set up a think-tank to promote contacts with China’s military, in what would be a key breakthrough in cross-strait ties.
Military contacts are still a relatively sensitive issue between the two sides. Direct contacts between in-service Taiwanese and Chinese military officers are rare.
Beijing, which has an estimated 1,500 missiles pointed at Taiwan, views the island as part of its territory and declared just four years ago that it was prepared to use force to stop Taiwan from declaring independence.
But cross-strait tensions have eased considerably after President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang took office, and both sides resumed regular talks.
Last December, Chinese President Hu Jintao called for cross-
strait military exchanges leading to confidence-building mechanisms that would ensure military stability.
Yesterday, Mr. Chen downplayed news of the proposed think-tank, saying it was meant as a platform to promote global exchanges and not specifically to promote contact between cross- strait military personnel.
Engaging China and ending military conscription were part of Mr. Ma’s proposals during last year’s campaign. But the plans to restructure the military have sparked worries that this might affect the island’s ability to defend itself.
Kuomintang lawmaker Lin Yu-fang voiced concerns about the calibre of the professional soldiers.
He told the China Times newspaper that only about 16 per cent of those recruited last year had university education, compared with 64 per cent among conscripted servicemen.
Others worried if the recruitment of soldiers would hit a snag when the economy improved.
About 60 per cent of the military now are regular troops, while the rest are drafted servicemen.
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Taiwan on track to end conscription
Restructuring of its military comes amid reduced tensions with China
By Ho Ai Li
10 March 2009
TAIPEI: - Taiwan is on track to say goodbye to military conscription and hello to a professional military force in five years, said the island’s Defence Minister.
Mr. Chen Chao-min also stressed that a planned think-tank for military exchanges would be global-oriented and was not a cover for initiating contact with mainland China.
Speaking at a legislature briefing yesterday, he said that with the economic downturn, the military has seen better-than-expected recruitment of regulars.
If all goes to plan, by end-2014, Taiwanese males above 18 would no longer have to do military service for a year, as they do now.
Instead, they would go for training for just four months and be in the reservist force until age 35. With that would come the end of conscription as practised in Taiwan for the past six decades.
The military restructuring, which is expected to reduce troop numbers from 250,000 now, comes amid reduced tensions with China.
In a related development, Taiwanese media reported that the Defence Ministry was looking to set up a think-tank to promote contacts with China’s military, in what would be a key breakthrough in cross-strait ties.
Military contacts are still a relatively sensitive issue between the two sides. Direct contacts between in-service Taiwanese and Chinese military officers are rare.
Beijing, which has an estimated 1,500 missiles pointed at Taiwan, views the island as part of its territory and declared just four years ago that it was prepared to use force to stop Taiwan from declaring independence.
But cross-strait tensions have eased considerably after President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang took office, and both sides resumed regular talks.
Last December, Chinese President Hu Jintao called for cross-
strait military exchanges leading to confidence-building mechanisms that would ensure military stability.
Yesterday, Mr. Chen downplayed news of the proposed think-tank, saying it was meant as a platform to promote global exchanges and not specifically to promote contact between cross- strait military personnel.
Engaging China and ending military conscription were part of Mr. Ma’s proposals during last year’s campaign. But the plans to restructure the military have sparked worries that this might affect the island’s ability to defend itself.
Kuomintang lawmaker Lin Yu-fang voiced concerns about the calibre of the professional soldiers.
He told the China Times newspaper that only about 16 per cent of those recruited last year had university education, compared with 64 per cent among conscripted servicemen.
Others worried if the recruitment of soldiers would hit a snag when the economy improved.
About 60 per cent of the military now are regular troops, while the rest are drafted servicemen.
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