Taiwan boosts reserve training with advanced weapons to counter troop shortages

Taiwan is significantly revamping its reserve forces, mandating a 14-day training program that includes advanced weaponry such as drones and the US-made HIMARS rocket system. This overhaul, the most substantial in decades, aims to bolster the island's defense capabilities amid a shrinking pool of military-age recruits and increasing pressure from Beijing.

The previous reserve call-up period of five to seven days has been replaced with the mandatory 14-day course for all eligible reservists. Defense Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung announced that reservists will return to units matching their active-duty roles under a "returning personnel to their original positions" policy. This ensures that training is more relevant and effective.

The reforms reflect growing concerns about Taiwan's demographic decline, which directly impacts military manpower. The island can no longer solely depend on its standing army to counter potential threats. The inclusion of advanced systems like HIMARS and drones signifies a strategic shift towards modernizing reserve forces to meet contemporary security challenges.

Furthermore, the defense ministry intends to amend existing laws to incorporate retired female volunteer service members into the reserve mobilization system. The rationale is that women who served alongside men in active units should continue their contribution post-service. This move aims to further expand the available personnel pool and leverage the experience of these service members.

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Besides training on new systems such as drones and the US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars), reservists will return to units matching the roles they held while on active duty under the military’s ‘returning personnel to their original positions’ policy.