Compulsory military service for men in Taiwan will continue next year. A recruitment shortfall means the original goal of an all-volunteer military by this year has failed to meet its deadline.
The defense ministry said Tuesday that there are not enough men to serve in the army and navy and to be stationed on outlying islands. It will therefore require 23,100 men born before 1993 to serve a term in the military.
Defense official Hsu Yan-pu said the ministry is still working towards the goal of a fully volunteer military. There are about 54,000 born in the year 1993 and there are 29,000 of them that may be conscripted next year. As the number of volunteer soldiers grows, the need to call men into mandatory service will decline. He said once volunteers have filled 90% of the military positions, there will be no mandatory military service.