By Gil Barndollar
Taiwan is the 21st century's Cuba, an island redoubt of one political-economic system a few dozen miles off the coast of the system's prime competitor.
Taiwan is also the key producer of high-end semiconductor chips for the entire world. Living under the enduring and increasing threat of blockade or invasion from the People's Republic of China, Taiwan has finally taken the long-overdue step of extending its military conscription period for young men from a symbolic four months to a meaningful 12.
The material inadequacies of Taiwan's military receive regular comment. Some orders for American munitions are years behind in fulfillment.
But the manpower problems of Taiwanese forces are both deeper and more salient. Caught, ironically like Russia, between an all-volunteer force and a conscription system, Taiwan's active-duty land forces number just 130,000 troops.
Its reserves, supposedly 2 million strong, are a paper force, with "no way whatsoever" to reinforce existing units in combat, according to James Huang, a prominent retired Taiwanese lieutenant colonel. While Taipei and Washington might hope that a Chinese invasion fleet can be defeated at sea, Taiwan's army is its final shield against occupation and annexation.
This piece was originally published in Nikkei Asia on January 6, 2022. Read more HERE.