With tensions between China escalating rapidly, Taiwan is looking to beef up its military in the event of an invasion, starting by extending the country’s mandatory conscription service.
Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday announced a series of upgrades to the country’s military, including extending compulsory basic training for men over 18 from five weeks to eight weeks, as well as boosting their monthly pay from a current $211 to $856. Moreover, soldiers will also receive additional gunnery and combat training to better prepare them for threats against Taiwan’s infrastructure. The new updates are scheduled to come into effect sometime in 2024.
“We welcome Taiwan’s recent announcement on conscription reform, which underscores Taiwan’s commitment to defence and strengthens deterrence,” commented the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a de facto American embassy in Taiwan. The US, for its part, increased military assistance spending on Taiwan last week, with President Joe Biden signing an $858 billion bill into law that will provide $10 billion in security relief and additional weapon procurement.
The move comes after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) embarked on a 24-hour military exercise in Taiwan’s southwest Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) over Christmas, consisting of 71 aircraft and seven People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels. The US called China’s military activity as “destabilizing” and “provocative,” while the communist country said the alleged “strike drills” were merely in response to provocation from the US and Taiwan.
Beijing has recently prioritized reclaiming the east Asian country, with President Xi Jinping pledging to “never commit to abandoning the use of force” to one day rule over Taiwan. Following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island back in August, tensions between Taiwan and China have rapidly escalated. Immediately upon Pelosi’s surprise stop, China staged numerous military drills near Taiwan, including missile launches and aircraft flybys into the Taiwan Straight.
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