Taiwan’s military has a problem: As China fears grow, recruitment pool shrinks
Taipei, Taiwan
CNN
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Taiwan has noticed a hole in its defense plans that is steadily getting bigger. And it’s not one easily plugged by boosting the budget or buying more weapons.
The island democracy of 23.5 million is facing an increasing challenge in recruiting enough young men to meet its military targets and its Interior Ministry has suggested the problem is – at least in part – due to its stubbornly low birth rate.
Taiwan’s population fell for the first time in 2020, according to the ministry, which warned earlier this year that the 2022 military intake would be the lowest in a decade and that a continued drop in the youth population would pose a “huge challenge” for the future.
That’s bad news at a time when Taiwan is trying to bolster its forces to deter any potential invasion by China, whose ruling…
