Amid growing tensions across the Taiwan Strait, attention has increasingly turned to Taiwan’s capacity to deter and withstand a Chinese invasion – particularly its deterrence posture, combat readiness, and societal resilience. While Taipei has undertaken sweeping reforms in arms procurement and military force realignment to address critical shortages in both weapons and personnel, a quieter, yet no less significant, series of targeted changes points to a deeper transformation at the ground level: the restoration of individual soldier dignity.
Starting July 1, all active-duty military personnel in Taiwan will be eligible for priority boarding at the nation’s international airports by presenting their military ID. When available, they may also receive complimentary seat upgrades. Defense Minister Wellington Koo, a former human rights lawyer, described the initiative as a meaningful gesture of national appreciation for the service and dedication of military members. While priority boarding may seem like a modest benefit, it is only the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at recognizing and honoring Taiwan’s armed forces since President Lai Ching-te took office in 2024.
In one of his first addresses to the armed forces, Lai pledged that a key part of his administration’s defense reforms would be to enhance the welfare and dignity of military personnel. This includes liberalizing travel regulations that previously barred service members from going abroad independently, requiring them instead to participate in organized group tours. In line with efforts to modernize the military, long-criticized and physically demanding ceremonial training elements – such as traditional bayonet drills and goose-stepping – have also been removed to prioritize combat readiness and practical skills.
One of the most notable initiatives has been a significant pay adjustment for all military personnel beginning in April. For a private, the lowest rank in Taiwan’s military, base monthly wages now start at NT$41,000 ($1,370). Those serving in combat roles receive additional bonuses, bringing their total monthly pay to NT$53,000. This represents a highly competitive salary, especially when compared to Taiwan’s monthly minimum wage of NT$28,000. The primary goal of the pay raise is to boost recruitment and improve retention within the armed forces.
Even Taiwan’s opposition parties, which often use their legislative majority to block the Lai administration’s initiatives, voted in June to further raise wages by NT$30,000 for voluntary service members and to offer higher salaries for those in combat units, bringing the minimum wage for a private to NT$56,000. Although the amendment drew criticism from the ruling party for bypassing the executive branch in allocating public funds and for politicizing military benefits, it nonetheless highlights a growing consensus on the importance of bolstering support for, and retention within, Taiwan’s armed forces.
The urgency behind the reform is clear. An evaluation of the Ministry of National Defense (MND)’s 2025 budget shows that Taiwan’s active-duty military personnel fell to 152,885 in 2024, the lowest level since 2018, with many combat units operating at less than 80 percent of their authorized strength. Even more concerning is the sharp rise in the number of volunteer soldiers choosing to leave early by paying a penalty, with numbers climbing from 401 in 2020 to 1,565 in 2024. These downward trends in recruitment and retention come at a time when the perceived threat of a Chinese invasion continues to grow.
The unpopularity of military enlistment as a career path may stem from both practical considerations and longstanding cultural attitudes. The military served as an instrument of authoritarian control prior to Taiwan’s democratization – a historical legacy that remains unresolved despite more recent efforts in transitional justice. Public perception has also been shaped by scandals, most notably the mistreatment and death of conscript Hung Chung-chiu in 2013, which triggered a massive civic movement demanding military accountability.
Meanwhile, a confluence of policy decisions in Taipei, Beijing, and Washington, shaped by oscillating relations over the past two decades, has contributed to the limited growth of Taiwan’s military capabilities, even as China rose to become a military superpower. This widening gap, compounded by Beijing’s growing hostility, has eroded public confidence in Taiwan’s defense forces – an effect that has inevitably weighed on military morale.
Structural reforms undertaken by Taipei, including the implementation of revamped military conscription and investments in asymmetric warfare capabilities, are ongoing efforts to address the imbalance between Taiwan’s defense posture and China’s military strength, as well as to shift public attitudes toward the military. However, their effectiveness will depend on parallel efforts to cultivate the will and determination of individual soldiers.
The Lai administration’s focus on the individual soldier is not only about improving benefits, but also about reinforcing discipline. In May, several celebrities came under investigation for allegedly falsifying medical documents to evade compulsory military service in the past, even though many are now over the conscription age limit of 36. This sudden clampdown came just two months after the administration announced its intention to reinstate military trials, discontinued in 2013 after the Hung Chung-chiu protests, to more effectively prosecute a rising number of Chinese espionage cases.
In a July speech, Lai described individual discipline and the dignity of military personnel as closely related pillars of his administration’s approach to military reform. “While maintaining the core tasks of combat training and military discipline,” he said, “we are advancing a people-centered approach and a reduction-oriented mindset to build a modern armed forces. We must ensure that service members feel respected, cared for, and supported, and actively eliminate the burdens of bureaucratic formalism.”
Whether these reform efforts aimed at improving the quality of life and dignity of military personnel can translate into sustainable improvements in enlistment and retention remains to be seen, but early indicators are promising. According to the MND, enrollment across the nation’s seven military academies reached a record high of 1,687 this year, following the announcement of military pay increases. Many of these cadets are expected to eventually serve across the three branches of the armed forces.
In any scenario of a Chinese invasion, Taiwan’s military servicemembers will find themselves at the center of the battlefield – just as they now rightfully stand at the center of reform.