Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Taiwan Demobilizes and Rearms

May 24, 2008:

Taiwan's newly elected government plans to cut armed forces strength 25 percent (from 270,000 troops to 200,000). The new government is friendlier towards China, and apparently plans to maintain Taiwan's independence by saying what China wants to hear (that Taiwan won't declare independence from China, which considers Taiwan a temporarily "lost province"), and buy more modern weapons from the U.S. Taiwan is also developing new defense plans that involve closer coordination with the United States and Japan. The Taiwanese still want to keep the Chinese out, but will be more discreet and diplomatic about it in the future.

Cutting the size of the armed forces is popular with most Taiwanese, because it means lower taxes, and fewer young Taiwanese men getting conscripted. Buying more modern weapons helps with troop morale, giving them the feeling that they could withstand a Chinese onslaught

China can take advantage of this situation and launch a decapitating strike. Cutting down the armed forces is a disgrace. It doesn't even go in line with Ma Ying Jeou's SMART policy. Meaning that whatever he says is completely unreliable. And he's the president of Taiwan. How shocking is that. Whos going to defend Taiwan now.....?

kliu0 said:

China can take advantage of this situation and launch a decapitating strike.

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That assumes troop reductions would leave vital areas under-defended. I do not see any evidence that will happen.

There is no timeline that I know of for troop reductions. Without a public plan this could never take place.

I think we'd probably see a stable PRC-ROC relationship during Ma Yin-Jeou's administration. This period would also give the ROC military some breathing room for adjustments.

Looking forward, the ROC military faces some major challenges:
* Future dmographic decline from birth rate of 1.12
* Trend toward reduction in conscription service
* Trend toward paid professional volunteers for military
* Size of economy and defense budget vs. PRC
* Increased domestic spending in social welfare programs & various subsidies
etc.


Consider, if you paid $1,100/month (*) in salary to 100,000 men, that adds up to $1.32 billion dollars per year (12.6% of ROC military budget), not counting future pension, housing, and health care payments.

(*) I'm citing the $1,100 figure from here:




Does anyone have any recent figures on what % of ROC military are volunteers vs. conscripts, and what the average monthly pay is? There was a 40-60% goal stated in 2005 but I don't think it's happening.

Seriously, face it a country with a all volunteer army? They gonna want to go to war when it happens? Highly doubt it, thats why every country in the world has a regulated army. Even New Zealand with its small population has a proper army.

I'm a conservative Taiwanese, What I'm worried about is that PRC - ROC relations get 'too' close and we'll be to slow to react to China gobbling up Taiwan. I believe if Ma Ying Jeou does in fact cut down troop numbers he needs to ensure that something else will go in when numbers go out. For example he could press for the procurement of AH-64Ds, UH-60s, M1A2 MBTs, New F-16C/Ds to improve both morale of the military and the people.

I'm just wondering if he does cut it down, he has to explain why and how it goes in line with his SMART policy. By the way I believe that conscription will still remain, I hope it does. For when all the military fails theres still some civilian militia to defend the country. Many Taiwanese believe that conscription is part of becoming mature for men. I'm happy to say when the time comes I'm going back to Taiwan to be do my military service with pride.

"We cannot guarantee there won't be any natural disasters any more on both sides of the strait, but through our mutual efforts, we can ensure there is no war," - Quote from KMT Leader Wu Poh Hsiung.

A sign that the KMT is going to disarm? If the KMT disarms I highly doubt that the PRC will.

China will only attack if Taipei does something really stupid, since war is bad for business and the CCP frankly is the world's biggest chamber of commerce cum police.

Anyone know if Taiwan is gonna get the Ah-64Ds and UH-60s that they are trying to buy? Any new news on the procurement of new M1A2 battle tanks?

Not sure when or if Taiwan is going to get the AH-64D, but considering the state of the economy isn't it a little expensive, not to mention no commonality with the Cobras Taiwan already has. And is Taiwan really trying to get M1A2's? Why not get something like the Sabra upgrade from Israel for the M-60, cheaper and more then enough power to handle to handle Chinese amphibious forces?

kliu0 said:

Anyone know if Taiwan is gonna get the Ah-64Ds and UH-60s that they are trying to buy?

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Probably.

Any new news on the procurement of new M1A2 battle tanks?

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No - Taiwan hasnt even formally requested them yet.

druid84 said:

considering the state of the economy isn't it a little expensive

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Not much wrong with the economy - theyre affordable.

And is Taiwan really trying to get M1A2's?

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Supposedly theyre being examined for replacing the older tanks.

Why not get something like the Sabra upgrade from Israel for the M-60

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See above - theyre not going to replace all tanks like the M-60s.