Taiwan’s armed forces are confronting a growing manpower shortage that threatens their overall combat readiness and ability to operate newly acquired weaponry, according to recent assessments by the island’s Legislative Yuan Budget Centre. The volunteer enlistment rate has stayed below the government’s 80 percent staffing target for a third consecutive year, underscoring persistent challenges amid intensifying security pressures from China.
The gaps in recruitment extend across frontline units, including infantry, artillery, missile, and air defense formations. This shortfall raises concerns about whether Taiwan has adequate trained personnel to effectively use and maintain the increasing volume of advanced military equipment entering service, analysts said.
Figures from the defense ministry, cited by the Budget Centre during a review of Taiwan’s 2027 budget proposal, show that volunteer enlistment peaked at 88.52 percent in 2020 but declined continuously to 75.93 percent in 2024, with a 77.31 percent rate recorded at the end of last year. The supplementary budget review this year indicated a rate of 76.62 percent by June.
More critically, numerous Category I units—considered elite forces expected to lead in any potential conflict—remain under the 80 percent benchmark. Affected formations include army infantry, mechanized infantry, special operations, artillery, armor, anti-armor, territorial defense units, as well as Marine Corps infantry, armor, and artillery. Naval missile units, air force missile units, and the military police’s 202nd Command also fall below the target.
The Budget Centre cautioned that these shortages could hinder both the training and long-term retention of specialized personnel needed to manage Taiwan’s expanding arsenal, which is rapidly growing due to accelerated procurement amid increasing pressure from Beijing. China claims Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunified by force if necessary, though most countries do not recognize Taiwan as an independent state. The United States remains committed to providing defensive arms and opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo.
Experts emphasize that modern weapons systems require highly trained operators, often demanding extended and complex training regimens. Max Lo, executive director of the Taiwan International Strategic Study Society, said if volunteer staffing remains below 80 percent, the military will struggle to maintain sufficient operators for its arrays of new equipment. “There may be weapons, but not necessarily enough people to operate them,” he said, recommending a restructuring of forces and manpower reallocation to adapt to the shortages.
Military analyst Lu De-yun, a former defense ministry spokesperson, highlighted direct impacts on operational effectiveness, noting that personnel shortages lead to extended duty hours, increased fatigue, and operating systems below optimal staffing levels, all of which diminish military capability. He also pointed out the particular strain on junior non-commissioned officers, who juggle multiple responsibilities in personnel management, discipline, and administration.
The issue is expected to intensify as Taiwan incorporates new U.S.-supplied weapons systems, including 66 F-16 fighter jets and enhanced missile and unmanned platforms. Kuomintang legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin has questioned whether the air force can sustain adequate pilot numbers to operate the new jets alongside its current fleet.
The air force reports maintaining a pilot staffing level above 90 percent, despite early departures and voluntary service extensions lapsing. However, researcher Chieh Chung of the Association of Strategic Foresight noted that the retention of experienced pilots—critical for training and leading younger aviators—may be declining. He highlighted a projected 4 percent reduction in funding for retention bonuses next year as indicative of ongoing pilot attrition.
In response to these challenges, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it is actively pursuing measures to curb personnel losses and boost recruitment efforts. The island’s military faces the dual challenge of balancing personnel shortfalls with the demands of modernizing its forces amid one of Asia’s most tense security environments.