On this day, 28 years ago, September 23, 1997 (August 22, 1997 in the lunar calendar), the United States and Japan officially announced the new defense cooperation policy. On September 23, 1997, the governments of the United States and Japan officially announced in New York the long-planned revision of the US-Japan Defense Cooperation Guidelines. This plan greatly expands the scope and methods of Japanese military forces 'activities in areas around Japan and is the most significant revision of the policy since 1978. The announced plan was finally approved and approved after the "February 2" US-Japan security consultation meeting, in which U.S. Secretary of State Albright, Defense Secretary Cohen, Japanese Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi and Defense Agency Director Akio Kusuma met. According to the announced revision plan, its focus is on three parts: "cooperation under normal situations","Japan's response when it is attacked by force" and "cooperation when situations arise in areas surrounding Japan that have a significant impact on Japan's peace and security." The plan stipulates that under normal circumstances, in addition to sharing intelligence and conducting policy consultations, the two countries will also provide mutual support and cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and disaster relief. When Japan is attacked by force, Japan will mainly bear the responsibility of taking first action to resist the attack, and the United States will then take appropriate support actions. The plan also formulates detailed provisions for US-Japan military cooperation in the event of situations in the so-called "surrounding areas of Japan" that are of special concern to Asian countries. These include strengthening intelligence collection and sharing and policy consultation, search and rescue operations, relief and treatment of refugees, evacuating civilians, and imposing economic sanctions. Japan will provide the United States with military and civilian airports and ports, logistics transportation and medical support, supply materials and fuel other than weapons and ammunition, and carry out various military operations such as communication support, air and maritime reconnaissance, and demining. This is the most important content of this revision of the "US-Japan Defense Cooperation Guidelines." The new policy does not clearly explain the concept of "surrounding areas of Japan", but only states that "surrounding areas are not a geographical concept, but must be determined based on the nature of the situation." On September 24, my country's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shen Guofang formally responded to the new Japan-US defense cooperation guidelines. Shen Guofang said that Japan-US security cooperation is a bilateral arrangement formed under a specific historical background, and this arrangement should be strictly limited to the bilateral scope. Otherwise, it will inevitably cause unrest among Asian neighbors and bring complicated factors to the regional security situation. We believe that in the context of relative political stability, sustained economic growth, and active security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening military alliances and expanding military cooperation is obviously contrary to the trend of the times. Shen Guofang said that in view of the above position, we have always asked Japan and the United States to act cautiously on security cooperation issues, including revising the defense cooperation guidelines, and not to expand the scope of alliance cooperation, or do anything that worries neighboring countries. Especially due to historical reasons, Japan's security policy orientation has always been a very sensitive issue for its Asian neighbors. It is hoped that Japan will learn from historical lessons and adhere to the path of peaceful development. Shen Guofang emphasized that one of the important reasons why China is concerned about the issue of Japan-US defense cooperation guidelines is Taiwan-related issues. As we all know, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Whether directly or indirectly including the Taiwan Strait in the scope of Japan-US security cooperation, it is a violation of and interference in China's sovereignty, which is absolutely unacceptable to the China government and people. We hope that Japan and the United States will abide by their commitments to China on the Taiwan issue, respect China's solemn position on the Taiwan issue, and refrain from doing anything that harms China's interests and hurts the feelings of the China people.