"The test latest test result found two illegal female Chinese immigrants infected with HIV, while many others were infected with syphilis," said Yang.
According to Yang, this problem was especially prevalent among women who had being in Taipei and Kaohsiung, since the sex industry is active in these two cities.
After the infected Chinese women were arrested and sent to the detention centers, extra medical treatment was given to them based on humanitarian concerns.
There have been other problems. In 1999, illegal Chinese entrants at Ilan's detention center held two policemen hostage to draw attention to the overcrowded living conditions in such centers.
Since that event, the government initiated news plans to build new Chinglu Detention Centers and renovate current ones.
In addition, in order to provide convenient and comfortable care of female detainees, police units trained more female police personnel to deal with security.
But some people have asked if the cost of such measures is too high.
"As long as China regularly takes them back, there will not be any problem at all for Taiwan," Lin said.
"But based on humanitarian considerations, providing a better environment for them is still necessary," Lin said..
Chang Cheng-liang (張增樑), a professor at the Central Police University who devotes his efforts to studying Chinese illegal immigrants, said that illegal immigrants from China cannot be wholly prevented as long as the economic disparity between Taiwan and China contniues to exist.
Facing a possible coming age of direct transport and trade links with China, Chang predicted that illegal immigrants from China would increase rather than decrease.
"The only solution for this, is for both Taiwan and China put aside ideologies, and cooperate to prevent illegal immigrants in a pragmatic manner," he said.
RSS