Taiwan increases military pay to address personnel shortages

TAIPEI: Taiwan has announced pay increases for military personnel to address a shortage of service members. This decision comes as tensions with China rise, with Beijing viewing Taiwan as part of its territory. China has been increasing military activities near Taiwan, including sending fighter jets and warships. During a visit to a military camp, President Lai Ching-te announced the pay raises. Starting April 1, volunteer enlistees will receive an extra NT$5,000 (about US$151) monthly, in addition to the current NT$10,000. Members of combat forces will see their allowances more than double to up to NT$12,000 a month. Lai emphasized the need to support military personnel and improve their conditions. The Defence Ministry stated that increasing salaries is both a short-term fix for manpower shortages and a long-term investment to retain talent and boost efficiency. The pay hikes follow reports showing a sharp rise in early exits from military service. Last year, 1,565 personnel left voluntarily, compared to 401 in 2020. As of June 2024, the total number of volunteer soldiers was 152,885, the lowest number in six years. Lai also called on opposition parties to support the military and reconsider cuts to the defense budget. Taiwan plans to increase its defense spending to a record NT$647 billion in 2025, around 2.5 percent of GDP, despite some items facing cuts or freezes, including funding for submarines and drone programs.