As China continues to increase military pressure on the democratically self-ruled island, the Taiwan military on Tuesday unveiled plans to enable women to volunteer for reserve force training for the first time. 220 female soldiers who have been released will be able to join in the training beginning in the second quarter of this year, according to the Taiwanese Defense Ministry.
In December, Taiwan announced that it will extend the period of mandatory military conscription for all eligible men from four months to a year starting in 2024, and the requirement will apply to men born after 2005.
Women made up 15% of Taiwan’s military as of 2021, but they primarily take on non-combat positions
It was announced by Maj. Gen. Yu Wen-cheng of the ministry’s All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency that the change would be tested out this year. The Defense Ministry of Taiwan has previously stated that it solely trains male reservists due to a lack of space for both sexes. Women being excluded from reserve training, according to Taiwanese MPs, constitutes gender discrimination.
According to the CIA World Factbook, Taiwan maintains a military force of roughly 170,000 people, the majority of whom are volunteers, and yearly trains about 120,000 reservists. Males between the ages of 18 and 36 must either voluntarily serve in the military or complete a required amount of reserve duty. Men who are discharged are liable to four training recalls during an eight-year period. According to the CIA Factbook, women made up 15% of Taiwan’s military as of 2021, but they primarily take on non-combat positions.
