BEIJING: China condemned a visit by two Japanese ministers to a controversial shrine for war dead yesterday, further straining already tense relations between Asia’s two largest economies.
Sino-Japanese relations have soured sharply in the past month when a row over disputed islands led to violent anti-Japanese protests across China and badly hurt trade.
The ministers’ pilgrimage to the Yasukuni Shrine, seen by many in the region as a symbol of Japan’s war-time militarism, came a day after a visit to the site by Japan’s main opposition party leader and possible next prime minister, Shinzo Abe.
Abe, known for his conservative views on history, has frequently visited Yasukuni, including this year on August 15 – the anniversary of the end of the second world war – but stayed away in 2007 during his short-lived premiership.
Land minister Yuichiro Hata and postal service privatisation minister Mikio Shimoji were among a group of non-partisan lawmakers visiting the shrine during the autumn festival.
Fourteen Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal are honoured at the shrine along with other war dead.
Hata told the reporters yesterday his visit was private. “I visited as a secretary general of the People’s New Party. It won’t be a big diplomatic problem,” said Shimoji, whose party is a small coalition partner of the ruling Democratic Party.
China’s Foreign Ministry disagreed.
“The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual pillar used by Japanese militarism for its overseas aggression. It still enshrines Class A war criminals who owe victimised people heavy bloody debts,” spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.
“We urge the Japanese side to face squarely and reflect upon history and strictly abide by its solemn statements and pledges regarding historical issues, and face the international community in a responsible manner.”
Ties have been shadowed for years by what Beijing says has been Tokyo’s refusal to admit to wartime atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers in the country between 1931 and 1945.
Reuters
