TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Cabinet on Friday approved combat duty allowances for personnel serving in military drone units after months of administrative delays, the Ministry of National Defense said.
Funds were scheduled to be distributed to service members before Saturday. According to officials, the payments will cover not only the current month but also previous months, dating back to when each drone unit was established, according to CNA.
DPP Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) first raised the issue in November during a legislative committee session. Lin questioned whether drone units qualify as combat forces and whether their personnel were eligible for combat pay.
Combat duty allowances were introduced in 2015 as part of Taiwan’s efforts to transition toward an all-volunteer force, aimed at encouraging service in frontline units. As of December, it covered about 57% of active-duty personnel, according to the Legislative Yuan.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo responded at the time that the ministry had already submitted a proposal to the Cabinet in August to grant combat allowances. Koo noted that drone units evolved from existing combat formations, so the Army’s drone brigade and Marine Corps drone battalion qualify as combat units.
In late January, ahead of Cabinet approval, KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) said in a social media post that drone capabilities play a key role in Taiwan’s future defense. Although drone units were formed last year with plans to procure 200,000 drones, combat pay had not yet been approved, leaving service members unpaid for months.
Unmanned systems are increasingly used by armed forces for their flexibility and effectiveness. In response to changing threats, Taiwan’s military has rolled out reconnaissance and attack drones, while setting up dedicated units and basic training and operational guidelines, according to the Legislative Yuan.
Drones help carry out long, high-risk surveillance and patrol missions, reducing the workload on personnel and wear on expensive equipment. In the event of a potential conflict, they could support defensive operations with precision strikes, working alongside major weapons to deter or disrupt enemy actions.
