Taiwan runs conscription and volunteer service side by side. Volunteers carry much of the standing force, and recruitment has fallen short of targets in recent years.

The measures fall into three groups: realigning pay and hazard allowances; improving barracks and working hours; and expanding certification and job placement for those leaving service.

Demography is part of the picture. With fewer births, the pool of service-age people is shrinking, so holding recruitment targets means capturing a higher share of a smaller cohort.

The problem is not Taiwan's alone. Korea and Japan have adjusted conditions and pay for the same reason, as have several European states.

We make no prediction about whether the measures will work. Enlistment figures after implementation will show that.