President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) visited the 66th Marine Brigade’s Second Combat Team in Taipei on Friday as the military wrapped up the final day of a week-long combat readiness drill. During his visit, Lai unveiled a new round of pay adjustments for volunteer service members in the armed forces.
Calling the military the “bedrock of the nation” and a source of hope for the Taiwanese people, the President underscored the government’s responsibility to support its troops. Under the revised scheme, monthly duty allowances for personnel ranked major and below will rise from NT$10,000 to NT$15,000 (US$302 to US$454). Mid- and senior-ranking officers will see increases of NT$4,000 (US$121) and NT$3,000 (US$91) respectively. Combat pay is also set for major increases, with some frontline units receiving up to an additional NT$7,000 (US$212) per deployment, doubling the original amount.
Lai emphasized that improving military compensation is a long-term process that requires thoughtful planning, not ad hoc spending. He also urged opposition parties to reconsider the impact of freezing or cutting defense budgets, calling for bipartisan unity in supporting the military. The new pay rates will take effect on April 1.