Source link : https://news7.asia/news/taiwan-wants-to-create-its-own-foreign-legion-to-fight-china/
Taiwan needs soldiers. But his army is having great difficulty attracting new recruits while Chinese military threats are becoming more and more intense around the island. Indeed, Beijing considers Taiwan to be a Chinese province and has not ruled out using force to seize it, even if the Chinese Communist Party has never governed this former Japanese colony. In this tense geostrategic context, Taiwanese legislators are considering enlisting foreign nationals to strengthen its armed forces and fight the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the event of an invasion.Chinese threatsDeputies in Taipei proposed at the beginning of January the creation of a “Foreign Legion” for the Taiwanese army, modeled on those existing in France or the United States. Thus, in America, foreign recruits can serve for two years before obtaining American citizenship. “In France, after three years of service in the Foreign Legion, soldiers can obtain French nationality,” confirms a former defense attaché who was part of this specific army corps. Taiwan was also inspired by Ukraine’s defense against Russia, by strengthening its civil defense initiatives and increasing its military spending. Last year, Taiwan also extended the length of compulsory military service, from four months to one year. Ukraine, for its part, also created an international military force in which some Taiwanese fought. The island is home to nearly a million foreign residents, mainly from Southeast Asia, according to official statistics, who would be attracted by obtaining Taiwanese nationality. Decline in numbers This proposal also comes at a time when Taiwan is grappling with a decline in its military strength. According to a 2022 International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) report, a growing number of soldiers are opting for early demobilization. A legislative investigation in Taiwan reveals that 1,565 soldiers chose to leave the service in 2024, despite the financial sanctions imposed on them. A sharp increase compared to the 400 soldiers who requested early release in 2020. These numerous departures leave the island with barely 150,000 military personnel on active duty. Faced with more than 2 million active soldiers and 500,000 Chinese reservists. According to Alexander Huang, security expert and professor at Tamkang University, cited by The Defense Post military research center in Washington, “There were 12,000 volunteers between January 2022 and June 2024. A figure which is expected to drop to 5,000 in 2025, potentially reaching its lowest level in seven years. Parliament’s budget committee reports that Taiwan’s military operates on average with 20% less than its personnel requirements. Decline in birth rate “There are many reasons for this decline,” the retired admiral said. , Kuomintang Party lawmaker Richard Chen Yeong-kang, but one is that Taiwan has one of the lowest birth rates in Asia, along with South Korea and the Japan. Richard Chen Yeong-kang also highlighted strong competition from the private sector, as well as the military’s relatively unattractive salaries and benefits. Taiwanese lawmakers say if the plan to establish a foreign legion is approved, it would provide a crucial boost to Taiwan’s defense capabilities.—–
Author : News7
Publish date : 2025-01-18 10:46:22
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