As Taiwan transitions to an all-volunteer armed force, the military must do more to build troop morale and public support.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/03/06
By: Lauren Dickey

Over the last year, there has been a noticeable uptick in public commentary on Taiwan’s

Credit: REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

preparedness to defend against an attack from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). These assessments, by and large, have shared a confidence in the capabilities of the Taiwanese military.

Troops are seen as ready to defend the island at a moment’s notice and trained for the absolute worst-case scenario of urban warfare in an all-out Chinese invasion. What these analyses largely fail to address, however, is the impact the ongoing transition to an all-volunteer force (AVF) has upon Taiwan’s national security. Though the AVF transition was finalized in January 2012, it remains a work in progress, beset by the challenges of low recruitment and budget constraints. Taiwan’s experience is not unique; the historical experiences of the United States, nearly two dozen European nations, New Zealand, Australia, and others make clear that building a professional volunteer military is no easy task. It is a costly, time-consuming process that requires the support of the public just as much as it does the tireless attention of legislators, policymakers, and society.    [FULL  STORY]