TAIPEI - TAIWAN is considering cutting its troop strength by as much as a third as relations with China improve, reducing the spectre of war between the two political rivals, sources and the media said yesterday.
The Ministry of National Defence is studying a plan to slash the island's 275,000 troops over the next four years, with an exact number yet to be decided, ministry spokesman Lisa Chih said. Local media said troop numbers could be cut to about 180,000.
'It is part of the defence forces' restructuring, taking into consideration the new type of warfare, mainland relations and other external factors,' Ms Chih said. 'Relations with China will definitely factor in our plans.'
Taiwan is able to reduce its number of troops because of the introduction of more modern weapons systems, according to Ms Chih.
The island also aims to increase the efficiency of its combat forces, reducing the number of support personnel necessary to maintain them. The troop cut is also in keeping with President Ma Ying-jeou's promises to gradually replace the current draft system with a voluntary force, she said.
Meanwhile, Mr Ma has moved aggressively to reduce tensions with China by pushing for closer economic cooperation. He has proposed to build a mutual trust mechanism with the Chinese military and eventually sign a peace treaty. Under Mr Ma, who took office in May, once annual live-fire military exercises have been scaled back to once every two years and the military's annual budget has been cut by 8 per cent.
China, for its part, has hinted at scaling back its short-range and mid-range missiles aimed at the island - numbering 1,300 according to Taiwan estimates - military sources say.
The pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been sceptical of Mr Ma's initiatives, fearing Taiwan is letting down its defences against its old rival.
'We question whether the troop cut is a goodwill gesture to China to help with the peace treaty,' said DPP lawmaker Ke Chien-ming.
Taiwan's mass-circulation China Times holds the view that the cut was forced by a lack of money to maintain what the government sees as an 'oversized' force. 'As there is no telling how long the current economic gloom would last, the cut could worsen the unemployment situation,'' the newspaper warned.
China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949 and has vowed to bring the island under its rule.
