Taiwan Still Lacks Military Culture Reform, Analysts Warn — SkimNews
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- Michael Hunzeker and Yuster Yu revisit their 2025 essay arguing Taiwan's military and civilian culture must change for a China contingency, concluding no major shift has occurred in the armed forces or officer corps 18 months later.
- Hunzeker and Yu note they would be skeptical of any sudden claims of cultural transformation, since organizational culture reform takes time.
- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense 'has a habit of declaring that it has suddenly embraced new ways of doing business, often in response to American criticism,' the analysts observed.
- The Lai administration does not appear to be seriously addressing the cultural challenge, according to Hunzeker and Yu.
- Taiwan already had more than twice as many generals and admirals per servicemember as the United States—roughly one for every 500 troops—a ratio the analysts had flagged for reduction.
- Hunzeker and Yu say their original goal was to start a conversation and identify practical first steps, not to expect immediate overhaul.
Why it matters: With cross-Strait tensions high and a defense buildup underway, the analysts' 18-month review identifies a governance gap: the Lai administration has the military structure but lacks the cultural follow-through—particularly the recommended cuts to Taiwan's overstaffed general ranks—that deterrence planning requires.
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