Yeh Jiunn-rong: Population Policy to Use Rolling KPI Reviews, Birth Targets Not Feasible

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 28. The Presidential Office announced 18 family support measures yesterday, expected to launch next year. National Development Council (NDC) Minister Yeh Jiunn-rong stated that population policy differs from general policy goals; setting an annual birth target is not feasible. However, a future executive task force will establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to conduct rolling reviews of the measures' effectiveness. The 'New Strategy for Taiwan's Population—Family Support' includes 18 measures across five areas: safe childbirth and parenting, enhanced childcare, increased education subsidies, friendly workplaces, and housing relief. The policy estimates an additional 205 billion TWD in annual budget, with a total annual injection of 380 billion TWD, benefiting an estimated 27.7 million people. The Executive Yuan will establish a task force led by Premier Cho Jung-tai to track progress. Taiwan's total fertility rate hit a record low of 0.695 last year. Premier Cho expressed hope to increase the rate by 0.1 increments to surpass South Korea. Executive Yuan spokesperson Li Hui-chih noted that the goal is to align human resources with national development needs, though short-term results are not guaranteed. Yeh emphasized that population policy involves public willingness and cannot be solved by a single measure, hence the shift to a comprehensive system.