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Assessing Taiwan's Reserve Force

• Taiwan has demonstrated an outstanding ability to mobilize its military and society to respond to both man-made and natural disasters. However, the PLA is rapidly modernizing and developing capabilities that will challenge mobilization and employment of Taiwan's reserves in a cross-Taiwan Strait conflict.
• As the number of Taiwan's active-duty soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines continue to decrease, and the active force transforms to a volunteer rather than a conscript force, reservists will need to assume increasingly difficult missions.
• Taiwan's current approach to reserve force training may be appropriate for many noncombat support personnel in the system, but it seems inadequate for maintaining the readiness of those reserve units that would see combat in the event of an all-out Chinese invasion.

Prospects for an Enhanced Strategic Role

• As the political-military challenge from the People's Republic of China (PRC) grows in the years ahead, the reserve force may need to play a more prominent role in Taipei's approach to deterring PRC aggression.
• By linking reserve force reform and modernization efforts with leadership statements, military exercises, arms sales, and other politically sensitive aspects of Taiwan's defense, Taipei can confront authorities in Beijing with the reality that any invasion campaign they may consider undertaking would meet with overwhelming resistance.