How many troops does Taiwan have: structure and data analysis
In recent years, the situation in the Taiwan Strait has attracted much attention, and the military power of Taiwan has also become one of the hot topics. This article will combine the hot discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days, sort out the size, structure and related data of Taiwan’s troops, and present key information in tabular form.
1. Overall size of Taiwan’s military

According to public information, Taiwan’s military strength mainly consists of the army, navy, air force and reserve forces. The following is its basic composition:
| Service | Number of people on active duty (approximately) | Main equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 80,000 people | Tanks, artillery, missile systems |
| Navy | 45,000 people | Destroyers, frigates, submarines |
| air force | 35,000 people | Fighters, early warning aircraft, transport aircraft |
| reserve force | About 1,500,000 people | Small arms, support equipment |
2. Hot Topics and Controversies
In the past 10 days, discussions surrounding Taiwan’s military power have mainly focused on the following points:
1.Reform of the military service system: Taiwan plans to extend the compulsory military service period from four months to one year, causing widespread controversy. Supporters believe that this move can improve combat effectiveness, while opponents worry about the impact on youth development.
2.Weapons and equipment procurement: U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have become the focus of international attention, especially the delivery progress of F-16V fighter jets and missile systems.
3.Comparison of military power between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait: Many analyzes compare Taiwan’s military strength with that of the mainland, emphasizing the huge disparity.
3. Comparison of key data
| Project | Taiwan region | Mainland China |
|---|---|---|
| Total active military strength | About 160,000 people | About 2,000,000 people |
| Defense Budget (2023) | Approximately US$13 billion | Approximately US$230 billion |
| Number of fighter jets | About 400 | About 1,500 |
| naval ship | About 120 ships | About 350 ships |
4. Expert analysis and outlook
Military experts generally believe that Taiwan’s military power is mainly defensive, but in the face of modern warfare, its shortcomings are obvious:
1.Limited scale: The active military strength is insufficient, and the efficiency of the reserve mobilization system is questionable.
2.Reliance on outsourcing of equipment: Independent research and development capabilities are weak and vulnerable to international political influence.
3.geographical disadvantage: The island environment makes resupply and defense in depth difficult.
In the future, Taiwan's military development may continue to focus on the concept of "asymmetric warfare" and strengthen missile and information capabilities, but the overall strength gap will be difficult to bridge.
Conclusion
Taiwan's military strength is a sensitive issue for regional security. This article uses structured data to objectively present its scale and hot controversies for readers’ reference. What needs to be emphasized is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and peaceful development is the fundamental way out.
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