KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Taiwan is facing difficulties in meeting its recruitment targets for professional military personnel as China intensifies its aggressive actions towards the island, making it challenging to reverse the situation.

Approximately 12,000 individuals left Taiwan’s military between 2022 and 2024. Government and military officials are expressing concern, and the possibility of enlisting foreign migrants into the armed forces is once again being discussed, an idea that has been considered informally for over two decades.

The primary reason for the decline is demographic. Taiwan has the second-lowest birth rate in Asia, following South Korea. While military pay is generally competitive, low morale and strong competition from the private sector also contribute to the issue.

“The idea of ‘migrant troops’ has been discussed for nearly 25 years, but no official panel or committee has seriously examined it,” Dr. Chang Ching, a senior research fellow with the R.O.C. Society for Strategic Studies and a Navy veteran, told Digital.

“I believe that most Taiwanese are unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary for victory in war. Employing migrant workers as mercenaries would only highlight the lack of citizens willing to fight, even to maintain the current state of de facto independence,” Chang stated.

Taiwan needs a strong military to deter China, its hostile neighbor located about 100 miles to the west. China has increased its threats and incursions into Taiwan’s air and sea defense zones in recent years, attempting to force Taiwan into submission.

American Christopher Clifford, known as “” on YouTube, has a significant following of around 112,000 Taiwanese who watch his geopolitics videos. Formerly Captain Christopher Clifford of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, he gained firsthand experience of the difficulties of invasion and occupation during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Speaking to Digital in Kaohsiung City, Clifford stated that his content aims to challenge “China invasion sensationalism.” He often reminds viewers that China’s “One-Child Policy” has resulted in many men of fighting age being highly valued “only sons” with a duty to continue family lineages. He also emphasizes the significant economic impact that a war would have on the region and the world, which he believes China may not be able to afford.

He acknowledged the problem of declining troop numbers but noted that many modern militaries, including China’s, are facing recruitment and retention challenges. “Taiwan’s military is implementing necessary changes, such as allowing tattoos and modifying height restrictions,” he said. “Previously, individuals over 6″6’ could not enlist.”

Clifford envisions a future where wars are fought with drones and cyber warfare. “Cyberattacks and misinformation pose a greater threat than a PRC version of Normandy. Comparisons to Ukraine are inaccurate, as Taiwan is not comparable to Ukraine or any other conflict area.”

Much debate surrounds the potential U.S. intervention in the event of a Chinese invasion or blockade. “While I understand the logic behind the U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity, I worry that too many Taiwanese, especially younger people, are relying on U.S. assistance,” Chang explained.

He is pessimistic about replenishing the ranks, citing pension cuts of 15-20% for retired Taiwan military personnel in 2018, which “alienated a critical pillar of the ROC Armed Forces – families with a ‘tradition of service.’” Speaking near the navy headquarters in Kaohsiung, Chang said, “Taiwanese born in the 1990s may not care about their ancestral province in China, but they will listen when their grandfather says, ‘Don’t sign up! They’ll break their promise to care for you, just like they did to me.’”

Taiwan’s government stated that the pension cuts were necessary to prevent the pension program from collapsing, and many Taiwanese supported the decision. However, opponents viewed it as a betrayal.

From the 1950s to the early 2000s, men in Taiwan served at least two years as conscripts. As Taiwan transitioned to a full democracy, both major political parties worked to reduce and eventually eliminate mandatory military service. By 2013, conscription was reduced to a four-month “boot camp.”

In 2022, then-President announced a return to the one-year service requirement, which took effect in January 2024. While some opposed the decision, there were no major protests. In the same month, Taiwanese voters elected then-Vice President William Lai, who is viewed negatively by Beijing, leading to further deterioration in relations with China.

Over 800,000 migrant workers, primarily from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines, reside in Taiwan, according to government statistics. The idea of enlisting some of them to address the military’s recruitment challenges has resurfaced.

Clifford believes that while it would be challenging, there are ways to make it work, possibly in exchange for something similar to an American Green Card. “They could start with a foreign legion of mechanics, engineers, cooks, etc. In peacetime, they could assist with construction projects and disaster relief. In wartime, they could be responsible for setting up other defenses. No rifle required.”

The U.S. is Taiwan’s strongest ally and main arms supplier. President Lai hopes to persuade parliament to significantly increase defense spending. Taiwan is awaiting the delivery of almost $22 billion worth of U.S. arms that it has already purchased. However, a more pressing issue may be the lack of trained personnel to operate these weapons.

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