Chinese Official Says Japan Should Maintain Only Defense Policy 　　A leading National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee official said in Beijing May 25 that Japan should adhere to its Peace Constitution and maintain a defense -only policy. 　　The official made the remarks after the Japanese Senate passed new Japan-US defense cooperation guidelines. Its House of Representatives had already approved the documents. 　　Japan should continue on the path of peaceful development and implement its own commitments, he said, calling the increased Japan-US military cooperation and expanded military role in the Asia-Pacific region a serious step, one that worries the Chinese and countries and regions in other parts of Asia and makes them uneasy. 　　The key point of the documents, which were formulated by the Japanese and US governments and approved by the Japanese Diet, is stronger military cooperation, he explained. 　　They empower the Japanese self-defense forces to leave Japanese territory and cooperate with the United States in military operations in "safeguarding regional security", but will in fact threaten the peace and stability of the region. 　　The move is a violation of the desires of the people of the Asia-Pacific region for peace and friendship and will surely arouse strong opposition, he said. Japan's explanation of the 'surrounding situation' has been ambiguous and vague and had a negative impact on the steady development of Sino-Japanese relations, he said. 　　He added that any attempt to include Taiwan in the scope of Japan-US security cooperation constitutes an infringement on Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity and an interference in China's internal affairs. 　　Japan should abide by the principles of the Japan-China Joint Statement and Japan-China Friendship Treaty and refrain from doing anything that interferes in China's internal affairs, obstructs China's reunification cause, and jeopardizes Sino-Japanese friendly ties, he said. (Xinhua) HomeNews 1999-05-26 Page4 Full Story in Chinese