Taiwan defence ministry triples female recruitment target

News Desk

The China Post

Publication Date : 24-02-2013

 

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) is looking to add 2,309 women to the armed forces, or nearly three times the recruitment target of 2012.

Last year, the MND set its recruitment target for women at 799, but saw 1089 women enlist. For 2013, the ministry is revising the target upward to 2,309 women.

Women have excelled in the military, said Wang Tien-de, an MND official responsible for human resources.

As Taiwan society moves toward greater gender parity, the MND will loosen restraints on female military personnel and allow them to serve in more units and posts, he said.

Late last year at the Legislative Yuan, Defence Minister Kao Hua-chu advised change to the military's standing rule that no more than 8 per cent of total personnel can be women.

So far, no revision plans have been finalised, according to Wang. The MND is reviewing case studies and developing appropriate strategies for incorporating more women into the Taiwan military.

Ultimately, the MND cannot prevent women from serving — when the time is ripe, the limit will be revised upward, he said.

The MND's recruitment campaign for 2013 keeps the iconic “Iron Man” ads, but is also venturing into some new territory.