Lai Administration's Defense Budget Fails to Address Inadequate Military Personnel

China Times Editorial, March 6, 2025

President Donald Trump of the United States warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he has no right to criticize the United States, citing Ukraine's shortage of military personnel as one reason. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance echoed this sentiment, pointing out that Ukraine is forcing conscripted soldiers to the front lines, revealing a severe manpower issue. The saying "Ukraine Today, Taiwan Tomorrow" underscores Taiwan’s own severe shortage of military personnel, a problem no less critical than Ukraine’s.

However, instead of addressing this issue, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration has been filing complaints to foreign powers, accusing the opposition of cutting the defense budget. This not only diverts attention from the real issue but also undermines American confidence and trust in Taiwan’s defense capabilities.

The key difference between today's Ukraine and Taiwan is that the Taiwan Strait remains relatively stable. However, the possibility of war in Taiwan can never be ruled out. If war breaks out, the shortage of troops will be the final straw that cripples Taiwan’s defense. A report by the Washington think tank Center for Naval Analyses titled "Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War for Taiwan" highlights the importance of military structure and manpower as the key elements of an "all-out defense" strategy.

According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the number of volunteer soldiers in Taiwan’s military peaked at 164,884 in late 2021 but has since declined year after year, reaching only 152,885 by June last year—the lowest since 2018. The military's staffing ratio also plummeted from 88.57 percent in 2020 to 78.6 percent last year, well below the 85 percent standard. Meanwhile, the number of officers and non-commissioned officers opting for early discharge surged from 401 in 2020 to 1,565 last year. All these figures highlight the military’s struggle to recruit and retain personnel.

To recruit, train, and strengthen Taiwan’s military forces, it is essential to adjust military pay and improve the status and morale of soldiers. Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers recently proposed four legislative reforms to improve military compensation, including raising the monthly salary of conscripted privates to NT$28,590 (about US$870, matching Taiwan’s minimum wage), increasing additional allowances for volunteer soldiers to NT$30,000 (about US$913), and adjusting combat and regional pay while incorporating overtime pay. Learning from Ukraine’s experience, these reforms are both reasonable and necessary.

Amid continuous U.S. pressure, Taiwan should establish its own defense strategy, including a peace initiative for cross-strait relations. The DPP refuses to engage in dialogue with Beijing, but worse still, it arrogantly dismisses proposals from KMT legislators to improve military salaries. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo’s vague response merely reiterated that talent recruitment and retention are critical for Taiwan’s military personnel strategy, and that the ministry has drafted plans to increase volunteer and combat unit allowances. However, insiders reveal that these proposed adjustments amount to only a few thousand New Taiwan dollars—far from a meaningful reform.

Even worse, the DPP administration has deliberately misrepresented the opposition’s political maneuvering over Taiwan’s central government budget, falsely claiming that the opposition has massively slashed defense spending and does not take national defense seriously. By taking this issue to the international stage, the DPP is effectively "filing complaints" to foreign powers. During a U.S. Senate hearing with Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Kelly Magsamen, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan warned that Taiwan’s opposition parties were playing a dangerous game and that cutting defense spending sends the wrong signal. Recent Taiwanese delegations visiting Washington also reported that U.S. officials repeatedly inquired about the alleged defense budget cuts. These delegations had to clarify that the opposition’s actions involved a freeze, not a cut, and that Taiwan’s defense budget had actually increased from previous years without affecting military preparedness.

With Trump returning to the White House, he remains firm in refusing to provide concrete security guarantees for Taiwan. The political atmosphere in Washington is shifting, diverging from the Biden administration’s stance. The Trump administration has redefined Taiwan’s strategic position and value: while Taiwan is important, it is not important enough for the United States to sacrifice American lives to defend it. Taiwan is a key interest of the United States, but it is not vital to American survival.

Under American pressure, Taiwan’s defense budget will inevitably increase—not only for purchasing American weapons but also for substantially improving military salaries to boost soldiers’ dignity and morale. The DPP administration should seize this opportunity to improve cross-strait relations and avoid escalating tensions that could lead to war. Instead, it has chosen to internationalize Taiwan’s internal political battles in the most toxic way possible. But would the United States really support a divided Taiwan?

From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20250306004552-262101?chdtv
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