TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) debunked a report on Monday (Oct. 16), claiming a lack of soldiers might force new conscripts to join main combat troops.
They emphasized that the composition of their main combat units still exceeds 80%, indicating sufficient personnel.
The MND stressed the continued focus on recruiting volunteer service members.
Conscription service, reinstated to a one-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2024, is primarily assigned to defensive units, with select service members allocated to combat units based on skills and preferences, the MND explained.
The MND added that volunteer soldiers would serve as 'Homeland Defense Troops', taking on military and civil defense tasks, and would not be deployed to the front lines.
Song Yu-ning, head of the Editorial Department at the Defence International Magazine, stressed that "the defense troops are tasked with defense; they need to have appropriate air defense capabilities."
"The equipment is needed not because they are going to the battlefield but in anticipation of evolving warfare needs," Song added.
From 10 a.m. on Oct. 16 till 5 p.m. on Nov. 15, men born in Taiwan between 1994 and 2004 enrolled in universities and colleges at home or abroad can register for conscription service during summer vacation on the Department of Conscription Administration's website.