Commentary: Two Countercurrents 　　People should maintain sharp vigilance on two countercurrents appearing in relatively calm East Asia, which all involve China's territorial integrity. 　　First, some senior Japanese politicians express their opinions on the scope of the Guidelines for Japan-US Defense Cooperation and related bills, which will be passed by Japan's Diet. Second, Japan actively participates in the "Theater Missile Defense system" (TMD) launched by the United States, and intends to make this system cover other countries and regions in East Asia. 　　So far, Japan's attitude toward the scope of the Japan-US defense cooperation is very ambiguous. Recently, certain Japanese politicians openly announced that "areas surrounding Japan" include China's Taiwan. The Japanese government explained that this "neighboring region" is not a geography concept, but rather it is decided by the nature of the emergency. It mentioned neither "including", nor "not including" China's Taiwan. 　　Not long ago, a ruling party leader claimed that "areas surrounding Japan" include not only Taiwan, but also China and Russia. The Japanese government did not clearly deny it either. 　　Furthermore, Japan's foreign minister said February 10 that other countries' civil wars and coups all belong to emergency happened in the "areas surrounding Japan". 　　These actions and opinions show that Japan not only claims "areas surrounding Japan" include Taiwan, but also wants to intervene in other nations' "civil war and coup". Otherwise, why deoesn't it clearly indicate that China's Taiwan is not included in its "neighboring region". 　　A great change has taken place while Japan intends to expand its military power beyond its territory by revising its defense cooperation guidelines with the United States. Once Japan openly announces that it has the right to involve in other countries' "civil wars and coups", the matter will become more serious. 　　Japan's active participation in the research and development of the TMD leads this plan into Asia, which runs counter to the historical trend and goes against the will of this region's people. This action will damage the stability and trigger a new round of armed race in East Asia. 　　Some proposals recently passed by the US Congress, which called for involving China's Taiwan into the TMD in East Asia, will connive and encourage "Taiwan's independence" and obstruct China's reunification, though all related sides claimed this plan to be defensive. 　　If the TMD in East Asia is put into practice, it will result in the turbulence of the Taiwan Straits and exert serious influence on regional peace and security. 　　The principle that "There is only one China in the world", "The People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China" and "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China" has become the common view of the international community. 　　The US and Japanese governments have both made promises to China on the Taiwan issue, while their leaders held talks with Chinese leaders. 　　We hope the United States and Japan abide by their promises and refrain from doing anything that harms Sino-US and Sino-Japanese relations. 　　The two nations must not intensify the tense situation in the Taiwan Straits region and set obstacles to the histeorical process of China's reunification. 　　 　　 　　 　　 　　 Opinion 1999-02-13 Page3 Full Story in Chinese