TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) announced Tuesday (Jan. 7) that it is taking steps to address a decline in military personnel by reducing workforce loss, enhancing retention incentives, and improving recruitment efforts. This response comes as the military's staffing ratio has steadily decreased since 2020, raising concerns about national defense capabilities.
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislator Wan Mei-ling (萬美玲) submitted a written inquiry to the Executive Yuan (行政院), pointing out the staffing ratio's decline despite President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) emphasis on defense security. Official data from MND reveals a drop from 88.57% in 2020 to 78.6% in 2024, marking a nearly 10% reduction over four years.
Wan highlighted that the number of volunteer service members fell from 160,000 at the end of 2021 to 150,000 by June 2024, reaching the lowest point since 2018. The ministry attributes this decline to demographic shifts and competitive hiring practices by corporations, which have impacted military staffing since 2022.
The ministry is implementing humane management practices and increased salary packages to attract and retain personnel. As these efforts unfold, the ministry's ability to reverse the trend and stabilize military staffing levels remains critical for Taiwan's defense strategy.
