TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Military service bonuses for volunteers will increase up to a maximum of NT$12,000 (US$363) on April 1, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Friday.

He announced the raise during a visit to a unit of the Marines at Taipei Songshan Airport Friday, the final day of five days of combat readiness drills. Taiwan has been facing increasing pressure from China, it’s military exercises and daily incursions by Chinese military aircraft into its Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ.

While current service bonuses amount to NT$10,000 for all volunteers, the new increases will vary according to rank, Radio Taiwan International reported. The ranks of major and below, would see the highest increase, to NT$15,000, because they formed the core of the fighting force, Lai said.

Lieutenant colonels and colonels would receive an increase of NT$4,000, while the service bonus for generals would rise from NT$10,000 to NT$13,000. The president promised even steeper raises for operational forces, from NT$5,000 to NT$12,000 for those responsible for training, and from NT$3,000 to NT$7,000 for members of backup units.

Lai said the improvement of wage conditions for the military was a long-term process needing reflection and discussion. He also called on the opposition to display support for the military by abandoning defense budget cuts.