TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部) has revised regulations for substitute service reservists, expanding "Education recall" (教召) numbers and extending service days during natural disasters or wartime emergencies. This March 17 policy change aims to strengthen Taiwan's "whole-society defense resilience" amid escalating tensions with China.
The Ministry of National Defence (MND, 國防部) explains that the revised regulations extend the "training mobilization" period for reservists discharged within the past eight years. The training now ranges from three to five days, increased from the previous one-day requirement.
Alan, a substitute services reservist, observes that live-fire exercise training began earlier than usual following official announcements about heightened cross-strait tensions. Tainan City officials confirm local reservists have already completed disaster management and EMT-1 emergency medical training programs.
Last month, the government conducted a physical defense resilience exercise involving nearly 120 substitute service personnel. The drill aimed to familiarize participants with their responsibilities during large-scale wartime disasters. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), an associate professor at Tamkang University (淡江大學), recommends that substitute service personnel focus on enhancing their existing skills in police and firefighting duties rather than receiving additional military training.
Alan expresses concerns about the program's effectiveness, requesting clearer explanations of policy objectives to ensure educational recall activities represent a valuable use of participants' time. Local governments have modified service recall guidelines, increasing the recall cap to half of each county or city's registered number.
Shu Hsiao-huang (舒孝煌), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), emphasizes the importance of flexibility and support measures. Shu notes that significant natural disasters require increasing efforts and extended manpower for rescue operations. He adds that mobilizing these reservists could reduce the military's operational burden, as regular military service is designed primarily to strengthen combat capabilities and maintain readiness. ★