Taiwan to strengthen reserve forces via agency
Taiwan is launching a new agency to bolster its reserve forces, as China ratchets up its military pressure.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen attended a ceremony on Thursday for the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency. It falls under Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense and will officially launch on January 1.
The agency will be responsible for mobilizing reservists in times of war and post-disaster relief during peacetime.
Taiwan’s reservists are called up by lottery for training every other year. Starting in 2022, the training will be annual and last for two weeks instead of one.
Taiwan’s defense ministry hopes to mobilize more than 260,000 reservists every year, adding to its more than 180,000 regular troops.
US Congress members have been calling for Taiwan to boost the capabilities of its reservist troops. The Tsai administration is believed to have taken that view into account with its latest move.
