How Taiwan's military manpower shortage is undermining its ability to fight
Taiwan’s military is grappling with a worsening manpower shortage, with its volunteer staffing rate remaining below the 80 percent target for a third consecutive year and concerns mounting over the impact on combat readiness, according to the island’s legislature. The shortages extend deep into frontline formations — including infantry, artillery, missile and air defence units — raising questions…
Taiwan's military is facing an increasingly severe shortage of personnel, as the island's volunteer staffing rate has fallen below the crucial 80 percent mark for the third year in a row, according to data from the island's legislature. This crisis has raised serious concerns about the nation's combat readiness, with frontline formations like infantry, artillery, missile and air defense units struggling to maintain adequate levels of trained personnel.
A recent assessment by the Legislative Yuan Budget Centre warns that these shortages could exacerbate workloads and training demands for existing troops, potentially undermining Taiwan's ability to effectively operate and maintain the growing arsenal of advanced weapons entering service. The assessment notes that volunteer staffing rates peaked at 88.52 percent in 2020 but have since plummeted to 75.93 percent in 2024 and 77.31 percent as of the end of last year.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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