Taiwan to train women reservists for eventual conflict with China

Taiwan’s armed forces announced that they will call up women for the first time to participate in regular training of their reserve military troops.

The announcement comes amid increasing Chinese military pressure on the island, which is governed democratically and autonomously from the communist government in Beijing.

The Defense Ministry said 220 female reservists will undergo military training in the second quarter.

Taiwan’s military often only trains male reservists, claiming that the military does not have enough capacity to accommodate both sexes.

But many politicians and civil society actors criticize this position as being discriminatory.

Taiwan will also extend the mandatory military conscription period for all eligible men from four months to one year.

The island has about 170,000 active-duty soldiers, mostly volunteers, and another 120,000 reservists.

On the other hand, China has more than two million soldiers, making it the largest army in the world.

China has greatly increased pressure on Taiwan since the middle of last year, when then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taipei, the island’s capital.

Beijing saw the visit as a political provocation and dramatically increased military exercises around the island – repeatedly invading Taiwan’s airspace with its military jets.

The Chinese government has always said it intends to regain control of the island, which has never recognized Beijing’s communist regime since the Chinese revolution in 1949.

Beijing has recently refused to rule out the use of force to regain control of the island. But the US government has always stated that it will defend Taiwan in the event of any armed conflict with China.

*With information from CNN International