Defense News

2025/06/10

The Ministry of National Defense released a press statement explaining the "Revised Draft of the Pay Act of the Armed Forces."

MND Press Release
Published at 21:20 on June 10, 2025

   The Legislative Yuan passed the revised draft of the Pay Act of the Armed Forces in its third reading today (Jun. 10). The Ministry of National Defense (MND) expressed that it welcomes the increase of salary for military personnel. However, the MND also hopes that before passing any bill which significantly increase government expenditures, the Legislative Yuan should first consult with the executive branch and coordinate feasible funding sources.

   The MND explained that, based on the provisions passed in the third reading today and using the 2025 planned personnel numbers as a basis, the estimated additional annual budget required is nearly NT$30 billion. According to Article 91 of the Budget Act and Article 5 of the Fiscal Discipline Act, if a bill proposed by legislators would significantly increase expenditures or reduce revenues, it must first seek the opinion of the Executive Yuan and specify the sources of funding for covering.

   The MND pointed out that following the guidance of President LAI CHING-TE, the executive team has spared no effort in improving the treatment and welfare of military personnel. In April of this year, several benefits—including significant increases to volunteer soldier allowances—were implemented and have already been disbursed.

   Nonetheless, the national defense budget is a part of the central government’s overall budget, and its potential for growth in scale and in extent is constrained by the size of government expenditures and the prioritization of key policy initiatives. If the increased personnel expenses are incorporated into the annual budget while the overall growth of the defense budget remains limited, it will crowd out funding for other areas such as military investment and operational maintenance.

   The MND will continue to work with the Executive Yuan to study and develop relevant measures, based on the principle of balancing the welfare and benefits of military personnel with the overall fiscal health of the nation.

2025/06/06

Ministry of National Defense Statement on the PLA’s Joint Combat Readiness Patrol

Time: 1900 hours, June 6, 2025

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today (June 6) that, starting at 1545 hours, a total of 21 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft—including J-16 fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, various combat and support aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—were successively detected conducting operations in the vicinity of Taiwan. Of these, 15 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and its extension, entering the northern, central, and southwestern airspace of Taiwan in coordination with PLA naval vessels under the pretext of a so-called joint combat readiness patrol to harass Taiwan’s surrounding air and maritime domains. The Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces closely monitored the situation using integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems and responded appropriately by dispatching mission aircraft and naval vessels, and deploying shore-based missile systems.

The MND emphasized that such actions are highly provocative, fail to respect the maritime rights of other nations, create regional instability and threats, and constitute a blatant disruption of the regional status quo.

About MND

The ROC Constitution stipulates that the ROC national defense aims to defend the nation's security and safeguard world peace. Under this, the nation's defense concepts, military strategies, military buildup, and objectives are formulated to prevent conflict. The current international situation and changes to the possible threat to the ROC are also taken into consideration in the making of defense policies at the current stage. The basic objectives are "preventing war," "defending the homeland," and "countering terrorism and responding to contingencies." The higher strategic goal is "effective deterrence, resolute defense" with the establishment of a quality self-defensive force capable of counterattack. China, though calling for reunification, has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan. It has not only deployed an increasing number of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan but also staged large-scale military exercises with an overt saber-rattling intent to destabilize Taiwan politically and economically. Moreover, its robust economic expansion in recent years has fueled its defense spending for greater military muscle. In order to maintain Cross-Strait stability and avoid a military imbalance in the Taiwan Strait, the ROC government is calling for the establishment of confidence-building measures (CBMs) and a code of conduct on the one hand, and, on the other hand, has been constructing basic defense forces and counterattack capability to safeguard the territory without engaging in an arms race with the other side.

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