President William Lai (賴清德) at a ceremony in Taipei on Wednesday to promote six armed forces officers said the military would “review the organizational structure of the main combat, defense and reserve forces” and, through regular exercises, test troops’ ability to carry out joint operations.
The consistent emphasis on combat resilience through practical training and focus on organizational reform in Lai’s military speeches is a demonstration of the importance the administration places on enhancing the military’s training quality and overall preparedness. This effort aims not only to culturally and structurally modernize Taiwan’s armed forces to meet global standards, but also to deliver high-quality, engaging and rewarding training to recruits to ensure they are equipped and motivated to defend the nation.
The reform focus of the administration is also evident in the emphasis it places on whole-of-society rapid response to disasters or contingencies. Ukraine’s resistance to the invasion by much-larger Russia has shown the importance of rapid whole-of-society mobilization — with civilians aiding logistics, medics training en masse and communities self-organizing. Lai on Thursday alongside Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and representatives from 13 countries oversaw the first civil defense drills under the societal resilience committee he launched last year, a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to improving national preparedness across all levels of society to meet contingencies.
Lai is building on the firm foundation laid by former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who not only reinstated one-year mandatory military service, but in addition to increasing defense spending, implementing an asymmetric strategy focus, supporting the indigenous defense industry and expanding civil defense drills, also set a new blueprint for bolstering military training, especially for reservists, while repurposing the reserve force to more seamlessly assist the main battle force.
In a televised address to the nation on Dec. 27, 2022 — the same address in which Tsai announced her decision to increase mandatory conscription from four months to one year — she called for shifting training from ceremonial and basic skills to practical combat capabilities, including urban warfare, asymmetric tactics, and for reservists to handle advanced weaponry such as Javelin missiles and drones.
Such reforms are important for conscripts, as they foster a sense of agency and purpose. When reservists train alongside active units, they feel that they are part of the fight, not just bystanders. Better training also breeds improved morale and confidence, which makes for better soldiers and effectiveness across all levels.
The announcement this week that in the first year since the reinstatement of one-year mandatory military service, 993 out of 6,956 conscripts, or 14.2 percent, remained in the armed forces as volunteer soldiers is an encouraging sign. This strong retention rate suggests that a meaningful portion of recruits found the experience rewarding, professionally valuable or aligned with their sense of duty. The figure signals growing confidence in Taiwan’s revamped training system, inspiring a new generation to serve.
However, meaningful reform still faces significant challenges. The military must overcome years of underinvestment in training, bureaucratic inertia and public skepticism toward service. Structural upgrades require not just new equipment and doctrine, but cultural change — breaking away from outdated practices and ensuring leaders at all levels embrace adaptability. Improving joint force integration, and command and control, also demands continued political will and funding.
Yet Lai’s strong political backing, the encouraging conscript retention rate and the US’ growing willingness to deepen military training with Taiwan augur well for the nation’s military reforms. With consistent leadership and sustained investment, Taiwan is on the right path to modernize its defense posture in line with the demands of contemporary warfare, while upgrading democratic resilience.
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