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Updated Sunday, August 9, 2009 12:09 am TWN, The China Post news staff

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MND will featherbed an 'all-volunteer army'

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has come up with a defense budget that accounts for three percent of Taiwan's gross domestic product, the first raise in almost eight years.

But a large segment of the appropriations for the next six fiscal years is believed to featherbed an “all-volunteer army” Taiwan wishes to raise.

Conscription of able-bodied males is currently mandated in Taiwan.

Enlistment has been adopted side-by-side with conscription. The military hopes to raise an all-volunteer army to take up combat duties in case of a future war, where well-trained troops capable of handling sophisticated weapons and equipment are needed rather than green conscripted recruits.

However, the MND is trying to increase defense spending by NT$180 billion (US$5.4 billion) over the next six years to pamper the volunteers.

Most of the money, NT$100 billion, will be spent on construction of modern barracks for the new enlisted men. Whereas 20 to 30 recruits are accommodated with cots in a huge sleeping hall now, volunteers will be given a room for four to share. The rooms will be air-conditioned and equipped with TV sets.

Recreation rooms will have digital TV sets, as well as facilities to play video games and enjoy listening to music. There will also be billiards rooms and modern gyms.

To attract volunteers, the MND plans to increase the pay. A conscriptee now makes a little more than NT$6,000 a month. The monthly pay will rise to NT$35,000, on par with a master's degree holder getting his first job.

As a result, the pay for the enlisted army would top NT$80 billion.

Moreover, the volunteers will have hot meals while undergoing field training. Mess wagons, each costing at least NT$3 million, will provide them with the meals.

Currently, recruits have to eat their cold boxed lunches and rely on “camp followers” for hefty snacks when they get hungry in the field.

Volunteers will be able to enjoy hot showers in the field, too. At present, troops have to return to barracks to get a shower only after the field training, which usually lasts one whole day.

In tropical southern Taiwan, recruits are all like drenched roosters (not hens) on return to their barracks.

All this is necessary, according to minister of national defense Chen Chao-min. “Otherwise,” he was quoted as saying by the United Daily News, “few would volunteer.”

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