Defense News

2025/03/24

Ministry of National Defense Press Release: Clarification on the Potential Applicability of Military Trials to Local Civil Defense Personnel

Date: March 24, 2025, 21:30

In response to public concerns regarding the recruitment of personnel for local civil defense teams or their participation in training exercises, and the potential applicability of military trials, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) issued the following clarification today:

The Ministry stated that military trials apply solely to active-duty military personnel who commit military offenses. Civil defense units, while playing a critical role in wartime support operations, are not part of combat formations and are not considered active-duty military personnel. As such, members of these civil defense groups are not subject to military trials.

Furthermore, the MND explained that under current military service regulations, reserve and supplementary soldiers are considered active-duty during their service period. Armed groups that are lawfully established and incorporated into combat formations during wartime are also regarded as active-duty forces. However, civil defense groups are not included in the list of armed groups specified under Article 4 of the National Defense Act and will not be incorporated into combat formations during wartime. As a result, their members are not governed by the provisions of military trial law.

2025/03/21

Ministry of National Defense Press Release: Explanation of the "Voluntary Military Service Allowance and Combat Unit Allowance Adjustment Plan"

Date: March 21, 2025, 09:50

   The Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced today (21st) that, in its ongoing efforts to enhance the salary and welfare of voluntary military personnel, the MND has formulated the "Voluntary Military Service Allowance" and "Combat Unit Allowance" adjustment plans. These plans were approved by the Executive Yuan on March 20, 2025, and will come into effect on April 1, 2025.

   The MND emphasized that improving the welfare and compensation for military personnel has consistently been a key priority for the government. In recent years, increasing external threats and more demanding national defense tasks have placed greater responsibilities on the armed forces. Furthermore, the challenges posed by the private sector for talent and the declining birthrate have contributed to a decrease in the willingness of young people to enlist, which in turn affects the overall combat readiness of the military. In response to these challenges, and following the directives of the President, the Ministry of National Defense has actively worked to improve the salary and benefits for volunteer military personnel, with a particular focus on supporting lower-ranking service members. The goal is to ensure that military training and operational readiness are maintained while also prioritizing the well-being of personnel and their families.

   The MND further explained that the "Military Personnel Compensation Adjustment Plan" was developed after extensive consultations and thorough evaluations by relevant agencies, including the Personnel, Budget, and Resource Planning Departments. After careful consideration of fairness across various allowances, the proposed adjustment plan was submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval (please refer to the attached table for details).

   In conclusion, the Ministry underscored that in order to strengthen national defense capabilities, safeguard Taiwan Strait security, and encourage long-term service among voluntary military personnel, the proposed adjustments are not only a short-term solution to the declining manpower issue but also a strategic long-term investment in human resources. This initiative is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including greater talent stability and enhanced operational efficiency for the military.

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.

Military News