The first and most famous of these areas is the Communist zone in the Northwest. Formally it includes eighteen _hsien_; the Communists claim inclusion of twenty-three. After being termed the Special Administrative District of the Chinese Republic (_Chung-hua Min-kuo T'ê-ch'ü Chêng-fu_), and then Shensi-Kansu-Ninghsia Frontier Area (_Shan-kan-ning Pien-ch'ü Chêng-fu_), the zone assumed the much more modest style of Administrative Area of North Shensi (_Shan-pei Hsing-chêng-ch'ü_).[11] This Frontier Area is in personnel and Party life a direct continuation of the Chinese Soviet Republic. Leftist and Communist circles talk as though it were a wholly autonomous state, resting on its own military power, but cooperating with the National Government for national resistance and reconstruction. This is largely true--at any rate, more realistic than the opposing view, which avers that no change has taken place in the Northern part of Shensi province, and that the Communists are interfering with the proper processes of government. The following is a characteristic statement of the latter position: At present the name "Frontier Area" seems to be very common because it is so called in false propaganda about the "independent sovereignty" [_tzŭ-li wei-wang_]. But if we agree that the so-called "Frontier Area" is a part of the territory of the Chinese Republic, the name ought to have been issued in conformity with the decrees of the central government. According to central government decree, it is only a "Supplementary Recruitment Area for the Eighth Route Army," but not an area of civil administration. [The author, in an extended discussion, challenges the re-division of the provinces as a matter not to be undertaken casually, denies the legal foundation of the term "Frontier Area," and then examines its practical justifications. He finds that the Communists have two: the regime is now a _de facto_ system, its existence is a _fait accompli_ and further discussion must proceed from this point; also, the regime is founded in popular opinion, and the government should not violate the wishes of the people. He disagrees with both of these and seeks to refute them, insisting on lawful procedure and constitutional government. He concludes with a peroration to the Communists themselves.] ... this problem is really quite simple, unlike the Sudeten problem. Was it the Communist Party of China which called the Sudeten Party of Czechoslovakia violators of the unity of their own country and running dogs of Fascism? Therefore, I think that they would never imitate what the reactionary Sudeten party did. And was it the Communists who originated the "United Front"? Hence they must understand very clearly what unification means to China, and must never utter things which they do not really believe.