Photo: Chung Li-hua, Taipei TimesThe National Security Bureau is monitoring the situation and would follow up on any developments that could threaten national security, the council added. Lee was accused of “spying on state secrets for an overseas organization and endangering national security,” CCTV said. The Taiwan People’s Party condemns the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the arrests, spokesman Tsai Chun-wei (蔡峻維) said. “The CCP has expanded its interpretation of the link being national security and spy activity. The Taiwan Statebuilding Party said that CCP claims of catching Taiwanese spies were a cover for engaging in psychological warfare against Taiwanese.

Taiwanese poets, writer highlighted in Tokyo showsBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterTwo month-long exhibitions focusing on the works of Taiwanese poets and writers have opened in Tokyo, the Ministry of Culture announced on Friday. From left, Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi store manager Isono, Taiwan Cultural Center in Tokyo Director Wang Shu-fang and Eslite Spectrum Japan director Wu Jo-ping hold copies of works by Taiwanese poets Yang Mu and Lo Fu on Thursday at the Taiwan Cultural Center in Tokyo. It also received permission from the poets’ families to display reprints of their manuscripts and old editions of their books, the center said. Since Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi opened in September last year, demand for Chinese-language books has increased among Japanese and Taiwanese living in Japan, the center said. As a result, the center has also partnered with the store to set up a section dedicated to Mandarin works that will highlight works by one iconic Taiwanese writer each season, it said.

Name change not on KMT agenda, chairman saysBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterChanging the name of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is not on its agenda, KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said yesterday, after comments by KMT legislative caucus whip Lin Wei-chou (林為洲) prompted discussion of the topic. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang speaks to reporters at an event in Taichung yesterday. This stance has not changed, the KMT said, adding that discussion of a name change has never been included on the agendas of the party’s reform committee or its National Congress, which convened on Sept. 6. Suggestions related to a name change from party members show that no topic is closed to discussion within the KMT, it said. The KMT “firmly believes that reform is the focus, rather than a name change,” it said.

The wall in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. Of them, 111 OB-GYN clinics and 73 pediatric clinics have closed over the past decade, a decline of 10.1 percent and 4.1 percent respectively, it said. The birth rate tends to be higher in the second half of the year, Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology secretary-general Huang Min-chao (黃閔照) said, estimating that there would be about 170,000 births this year. The declining number of dedicated OB-GYN clinics could be attributed to the advanced age of the average OB-GYN, the transformation of many clinics to family medicine and the growing trend of opening polyclinics, he said. To address the falling birth rate, the ministry in October last year expanded screening of newborns for congenital metabolic disorders and raised the childcare subsidy allowance.

The characters for the Ministry of Education are pictured above the ministry’s main entrance in Taipei in an undated photograph. “Scholastic entrepreneurship should be the model for the next stage of Taiwanese industry,” said Chen, who used to help run the TRUST-U program. Hung said that he recognized the trend toward scholastic entrepreneurship and decided to draw upon his experience working with industry leaders while at the Industrial Technology Research Institute. However, not all start-ups go smoothly, as Sean Chen (陳學仕), a professor of materials science and engineering at Shida, can attest. After researching quantum materials for two decades, Chen founded HsinLight in 2018 to respond to needs in the display panel industry.

Although repeated crossings into Taiwan’s airspace have caused public concern, China has made concessions in its territorial claims in the South China Sea, he said. Legislative Speaker You Si-kun, left, is accompanied by Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, right, as he speaks to reporters at an event in Taipei yesterday. Over the past several months, China has shown restraint, and weakness, in the South China Sea, he said. Wang had expressed hope for a “rebooting of the South China Sea norms,” and a desire for it to become a “sea of hope, friendship and peace,” You said. You said the statements appeared to be China shrinking back, and greatly reduced tensions in the South China Sea.

‘Time for independence’: protestersBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterIndependence advocates yesterday rallied outside the cordoned-off area for the Double Ten National Day celebration around the Presidential Office Building, urging the government to normalize diplomatic relations with the US and draft a new constitution. Taiwan Republic Office director Chilly Chen (陳峻涵) called on President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to not betray the majority of Taiwanese who hope that Taiwan achieves normal nationhood and the name “Republic of China (ROC)” will be dropped. Chilly Chen said that it is a critical time, because China has been increasingly making hostile moves toward Taiwan and threatens to go to war against numerous democratic countries. “US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that if China attacks Taiwan, the US will do everything it can to reduce tension in the region and fulfill its commitments to Taiwan,” he said. “This is the right time to go for independence and establish formal relations with other democratic countries.”

KMT’s Lin Wei-chou moots axing ‘zhongguo’‘PRAGMATIC’: Changing the party’s name should be discussed, the caucus whip said, referring to people’s ‘negative perception’ of being a pro-China partyBy Chen Yun / Staff reporterChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislative caucus whip Lin Wei-chou (林為洲) yesterday said it might be best if Zhongguo (中國) were dropped from the party’s official name. Of course, our understanding is that Zhongguo refers to the Republic of China, but it is easily confused with the People’s Republic of China,” Lin wrote on Facebook. Hopefully the question would be openly discussed among fellow party members, he said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Lin Wei-chou speaks during a committee meeting at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on Wednesday. “I raise this issue so that party members can discuss it.

“At this stage, the most pressing cross-strait issue is to discuss how we can live in peace and coexist based on mutual respect, goodwill and understanding,” Tsai told Double Ten National Day participants. A girl with Taiwan’s national flag painted on her face smiles at Double Ten National Day celebrations in Taipei yesterday. President Tsai Ing-wen delivers her Double Ten National Day address in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei yesterday. The Thunder Tiger Aerobatics Team lay red, white and blue smoke trails as they fly over the Presidential Office Building in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNAMilitary police take part in a motorcycle display during Double Ten National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei yesterday.

Hsinchu exposition attracts record crowdBIG DATA HELP: Using information collected by Chunghwa Telecom, the city was able to determine traffic flows at the expo to optimize bus schedules and evaluate the eventBy Tsai Chang-sheng / Staff reporterThe Taiwan Design Expo in Hsinchu on Friday attracted a record 640,000 visitors, most of whom were younger than 29 years old, the city government said yesterday. The exposition opened on Thursday last week and closes today, with Hsinchu Park and the old town area on either side of the Hsinchu Railway Station serving as the main venues. Visitors clink cans at the Taiwan Design Expo in Hsinchu on Friday. People from Taipei, Taoyuan, New Taipei City and Hsinchu city and county made up more than 70 percent of the attendees, while Japanese were among the largest group of foreign visitors, he said. Big data tools allow the city to optimize shuttle bus schedules and evaluate if the event attracts its target audience as planned, he added.

Guardians win; CTBC clinch spotBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe Fubon Guardians grabbed all the runs they needed in the opening frame at the Taoyuan International Stadium last night, although they added more, leading all the way to beat the Rakuten Monkeys 6-2 as the race for post-season berths heats up with two weeks remaining in the CPBL’s regular season. Fubon Guardians starter Manny Banuelos winds up against the Rakuten Monkeys during their game at the Taoyuan International Stadium yesterday. He is now second for wins among pitchers in the league, only trailing Rakuten lefty Wang Yi-cheng, who has a 10-6 record, with a 5.42 ERA. “It’s great to ensure we will get into the finals this year, but we will not relax,” CTBC manager Chiu Chang-jung said. That cannot be surpassed by the Rakuten Monkeys in second, who have 58 wins and 56 losses (0.509) through 113 of 120 games.

Draft Amendment seeks to improve mental illness careBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNANew Power Party (NPP) Legislator Claire Wang (王婉諭) on Thursday proposed an amendment to the Mental Health Act (精神衛生法) in the hope of providing better community services for people with mental illness. The law, enacted about two decades ago, aims to assist people to live independently and ultimately reintegrate with society, but does not spell out how the government is to help communities to accommodate people with mental illness, she said. Wang said that her proposal clarifies the kinds of social support that people with mental illness need and increases the standards of services offered by communal mental health centers. New Power Party Legislator Claire Wang, center, speaks at a public hearing on a draft amendment to the Mental Health Act at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on Thursday. Meeting the needs of people with mental illness requires public health services and community support, Chen said.

People attend a Proud of Taiwan party on the eve of Double Ten National Day at the Port of Keelung’s West No. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times“We hope that we will continue to provide a stabilizing force on international affairs,” she said. Twenty-one representatives of people who have made significant contributions to COVID-19 prevention efforts would lead the national anthem alongside the Taipei Medical University Sing Song Chorus, event organizers said. National flags fly in Taichung yesterday ahead of Double Ten National Day today. F-16V jets and the Thunder Tigers aerobatics team are to conclude the morning’s events in Taipei with a flyby, organizers said.

Tsai commits to improve tank fleetACCIDENT INVESTIGATION: The remarks came after Thursday’s tank crash in Kinmen, killing one, for which the president promised a comprehensive investigationStaff Writer, with CNAPresident Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that the military is planning to purchase the most advanced tanks to quickly replace older models. Tsai made the remarks after meeting the family of a soldier killed after a drill in Kinmen County when a M41A3 Walker Bulldog light tank crashed into an embankment next to a road on Thursday. Police officers on Thursday collect evidence after a tank crashed into an embankment near Kinmen County’s Lieyu Township. Tsai urged Taiwan’s soldiers not to let the incident demoralize them, adding that she hoped that the public would continue to show its support for the military. The tank, part of the Kinmen Defense Command’s Lieyu Garrison Battalion, was on its way back to its base when it crashed near Lieyu Township (烈嶼).

Housing transactions last month gained 36 percentBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterHousing transactions last month totaled 24,356 units in the nation’s six special municipalities, a 36 percent increase from a year earlier, catapulted by real-estate needs and investment demands coupled with low interest rates, brokers said. The data affirmed a concrete recovery in the property market that was earlier pushed back by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Sinyi Realty Inc (信義房屋), Taiwan’s only listed broker. The number of property deals in Taipei surged 44 percent from a year earlier to 3,133, supported in part by low borrowing costs, Evertrust Rehouse Co (永慶房屋) said. Properties in Taipei, while relatively expensive compared with housing elsewhere in Taiwan, are resilient in value compared with other investment tools amid intense market volatility, Hsieh said. Transactions in Taoyuan rose 37 percent from a year earlier to 4,389 units, while deals in Kaohsiung grew 32 percent to 3,505 units, local government data showed.