Taiwan military personnel can now travel abroad solo

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced a significant policy change on Wednesday (June 5), allowing military personnel to travel abroad independently for the first time.

New Travel Guidelines for Military Personnel

Under the new regulations, military personnel wishing to travel independently must submit a detailed itinerary, including their travel schedule, flight routes, and accommodation details. Those opting for group travel must provide the original travel agency contract and a trip schedule.

Upon returning to Taiwan, service members must submit copies of their passports showing entry and exit stamps, boarding passes or airport entry and exit documents, and proof of hotel accommodations.

Criticism of Previous Regulations
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) criticized the previous policy, which mandated group travel for military personnel, as ineffective. In his Facebook post, he described it as having "no management beforehand, no enforcement during, and no inspection afterward," resulting in low management efficiency.

Hung highlighted that for decades, approximately 180,000 individuals, including military personnel, military school teachers, and military medical staff, were adversely affected by the mandatory group travel policy, facing significant obstacles even when attending international academic conferences.

The policy revision responds to these criticisms, aiming to give military personnel greater flexibility and autonomy in their travels while ensuring security and accountability.