The nation's intelligence agencies have stepped up their vigilance with the aim of clamping down on potential intelligence gathering activities by Chinese nationals who have entered Taiwan by both legal and illegal means.
Military sources say China has sent over 100 intelligence agents over the past few months to collect information related to the March 18 presidential election.
A Chinese-language newspaper in Taiwan reported yesterday that intelligence authorities are now seeking to track the whereabouts of over 500 Chinese citizens who went missing after they entered the country legally.
These missing Chinese nationals are suspected by intelligence authorities to be working as spies here, the newspaper article said.
Commenting on the reports, which have increased over the past week, a Ministry of National Defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Taiwan should take precautions against Chinese nationals who seek to smuggle themselves into the country rather than those who have arrived by legal means.
"That over 500 Chinese nationals have gone missing in Taiwan indicates some problems with our household check system. It does not necessarily mean that those missing Chinese nationals have intentionally hidden themselves from police or are engaged in espionage," the official said.
"China has certainly been sending intelligence agents to our country. These agents usually stay for a short period. They come through both legal and illegal channels," he said.
"The number of Chinese spies coming through legal channels can be estimated and can be kept under control. Those who enter the country by illegal means, such as smuggling, are not subject to this kind of control. The number of infiltrators could be in the thousands each year," he said.
What Chinese spies are interested in now is information about the presidential election, the official said. The Chinese leadership certainly wants to be kept constantly informed of public opinion around the country in the run-up to the election.
If public opinion develops in a way that is unfavorable toward reunification, China might seek to adjust its policy, he said.
"We don't want to take strong action against the Chinese spies. If we arrest some of these spies, China will surely do the same to our agents in China," he said.
The Chinese infiltrators come to Taiwan on fishing boats, with the Ilan County coastline being the main point of entry, sources said.
If fishing boats carrying Chinese infiltrators are not spotted and intercepted by marine police at sea, chances of discovery and arrest are slim once they have landed, sources said.
The situation might improve following the inauguration of the coast guard administration, they said.
It is extremely difficult to eliminate human smuggling activities through which Chinese infiltrators come to Taiwan. This is because it is a lucrative businesses, they said. Some of beneficiaries are government officials, sources said.
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