President Ma Ying-jeou has promised that the Marine Corp and the military police will not be scrapped in the government’s next military streamlining plan.
Ma made the comments on Saturday at an event commemorating the 90th anniversary of the ROC Military Academy.
The government’s plan aims to cut the number of troops to between 170,000 and 190,000 from the approximately 220,000 now. The ultimate goal is to shift to an all-volunteer military.
There have been rumors that the Marine Corp will be integrated into the army under the plan. But President Ma said Taiwan needs to maintain a sufficient level of defense, and the Marine Corp and the military police will not be scrapped.
Under the five-year restructuring program, the military will undergo structural adjustments each year through 2019 in keeping with the global downsizing trend.
Starting in 2017, the military will need to recruit only some 7,000 soldiers each year to meet defense needs.