Defense Mobilization

Pursuant to the “All-out Defense Mobilization Readiness Act,” we shall set up the all-out defense mobilization system, carry out the all-out national defense ideas, combine the acts of administrative plans, and enforce a variety of mobilization preparations, in order to integrate and utilize all of civilian strength and accumulate total national military capability, in which the “Disaster Prevention and Protection Act” has been observed for disaster prevention exercises and support of disaster prevention and rescue during ordinary times and assistance in military operations and handling emergency disasters during wartime.

1.Mechanism for integration of reports from various levels

The all-out defense mobilization mechanism consists of the operations of two major systems, namely “reporting” and “planning”. Reporting involves three levels: the Executive Yuan, respective ministries/departments and special municipalities, and county (city) governments, whereas planning involves four levels: mobilization readiness guidelines, programs, classification planning and implementation planning, in which one level supervises (guides) the next level, practicing various mobilization readiness tasks through the annual administrative planning of related central ministries/departments, special municipalities and county (city) governments. To reinforce cross-region integration of mobilization reporting in conjunction with the flood season and war simulation, a total of 43 sessions of three-in-one reporting on mobilization, comprehensive war coordination and disaster prevention were held in 2018, in which natural disaster prevention and rescue and support of military operations were the main themes; “special studies” and “war games” were also included, in order to give full play to local governments’ disaster response capability and support military operations.

2.Command of military mobilization capacity

Military mobilization consists of two parts: “manpower mobilization” and “resources mobilization”. Manpower mobilization mainly aims to meet the demand for military manpower and involves “Mobilization by actual manpower establishment plan”, “Mobilization by expanded manpower establishment plan”, “Mobilization by warfare supplement plan” and “Mobilization by auxiliary military service plan”. Based on the principles of “younger combat personnel and seasoned specialists” and “first drafting those who complete the military services the most recently”, the manpower within eight years has been listed for control and prioritized for reserve force organization, in order to ensure adequate military force capacity. With respect to resources mobilization, it is mainly to meet the demand for shortage makeup and tactical support, in which the support capacity is expected to be augmented through “procurement and expropriation of military supplies”, “military transportation mobilization” and “production conversion”. By coordinating relevant ministries/departments, special municipalities, county (city) governments and regulatory agencies, a resource integration platform was set up, which currently compiles and manages 10 major categories, 67 items and 341 sub-items to be used for prompt mobilization and support of defense and combat missions during the war time.

3.Verification of mobilization readiness with exercise demonstrations

To verify the mobilization readiness effect, the Ministry of National Defense conducted its annual “All-out Defense Mobilization and Disaster Prevention and Rescue Exercise (Min-an Exercise)”, “Civil Military Joint Air Defense Exercise (Wan-an Exercise)” and “Self-reinforcing Exercise”. The “All-out Defense Mobilization and Disaster Prevention and Rescue Exercise (Min-an Exercise)” was jointly held with the Executive Yuan’s annual “Disaster Prevention and Rescue Exercise”, which was largely organized by special municipalities and county (city) governments with the focus placed on the combined disaster prevention and rescue exercise. A total of 16,148 people, 1,925 various types of vehicles, 95 vessels and 21 helicopters took part in “Min-An Exercise No. 4 and 5” held in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In addition, in conjunction with field maneuver for “Han-guang Exercise No. 34 and 35”, “Wan-an Exercises No. 41 and 42” were implemented, in which 96,359 people and 33,180 various types of vehicles participated. Furthermore, in “Self-reinforcing Exercise No. 35 and 36”, 220,509 pieces, 336 vehicles and 71 engineering heavy machines were expropriated (rented) to verify the related laws and guidelines on resources mobilization.

4.Establishment of the mobilization information system

To enhance the mobilization speed and capacity of the reserve force, a QR Code of “Draft Inquiry System” has been established to make it easier for the reservists to inquire about drafting-related information, and the “mobile phone text message” service has been added to increase the reporting rate of draft calls. On the other hand, in order to reinforce resources mobilization certification efficiency and accuracy, the online operation method of “one level supervising (guiding) the next level” has been simultaneously adopted to maximize the effects of the resources mobilization information system and streamline the operation process. By following IT trends, the reservists’ “returning home to report” has been changed to online transmission as of 2019, in order to streamline the procedure and give people greater convenience.

5.Promotion of the weekend warrior policy

military reservists, a “reserve soldier” system has been implemented since 2017, with which military reservists may work for a private company, come back to the military two days each month and participate in a drill each year with their spare time, and spend at least 29 days a year in the military to be acquainted with the operation of armament, so that they can exert prompt military forces in the war time. The recruitment has grown from 100 members in 2017 to today’s 185 members. The outcome will be verified in accordance with the requirements of recruitment and execution. The relevant compensation and benefits will be enlisted and rolling modifications for the matching process will be implemented. It is hoped that all efforts will expand the recruitment unit and recruited members year by year, and in the end, our national military force will be further reinforced.