
Taipei, Dec. 23 (CNA) Nearly 99 percent of the 5,000-plus conscripts serving the longer one-year compulsory military service since the start of 2024 have passed required boot camp tests, a government official said Monday.
Taiwan's military has extended military service for men to one year from the previous four months since January with the aim of strengthening the country's combat readiness in the face of threats from China.
Citing the numbers provided by the Ministry of National Defense (MND), Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said Monday that from January to November, a total of 5,277 conscripts have undergone required boot camp completion tests, 98.3 percent of whom passed.
Those who failed the tests are not entitled to claim around NT$10,000 (US$305) monthly allowance and will only receive a monthly basic salary of NT$10,550, according to the MND.
Kung made the remarks at the Executive Yuan while briefing a group of Control Yuan members on the Cabinet's ongoing efforts to build a more resilient Taiwan to safeguard peace and security, including extending compulsory military service.
The government watchdog agency has routinely visited different government branches on inspection tours.
Following eight weeks of boot camp, conscripts are assigned to designated units in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Information, Communications and Electronic Force, Military Police, Political Warfare Bureau, or Medical Affairs Bureau, based on each individual's skills, according to the MND.
Currently, Taiwan's military is mainly a volunteer force of around 215,000 people, with conscripts serving in a supporting role. As of June, there were 152,885 active-duty voluntary military personnel in Taiwan's armed forces.

- Volunteer soldiers to be asked to sign dual nationality affidavit: MNDThe Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Wednesday said it will ask all applicant volunteer soldiers to sign an affidavit that they do not have dual nationality, to avoid the re-occurrence of a recent incident when a naval serviceman was found having a Chinese ID card.02/12/2025 09:20 PM
- Taiwan's military relaxes rules on height, tattoosA senior Taiwanese military official in charge of recruitment said Wednesday that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has relaxed height and tattoo restrictions to boost recruitment.02/12/2025 04:26 PM
- U.S. military vessels make first Taiwan Strait transit of Trump's 2nd termTwo American military vessels transited the Taiwan Strait from Sunday through early Wednesday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a statement.02/12/2025 11:26 AM
- Politics
Lai pledges to raise Taiwan's defense spending to over 3% of GDP
02/14/2025 03:55 PM - Business
Taiwan shares close down 1.05%
02/14/2025 02:29 PM - Society
16 witnesses questioned as probe into Taichung mall explosion continues
02/14/2025 01:05 PM - Business
U.S. dollar down in Taipei trading
02/14/2025 10:17 AM - Society
Taiwan headline news
02/14/2025 10:15 AM