China strongly condemned what it called Japan’s “negative moves” concerning the Yasukuni Shrine, saying the actions were a provocation against the postwar international order, according to a Saturday statement from the Chinese Embassy in Japan. The embassy said the shrine, where 14 Class-A war criminals are enshrined, is a symbol of Japanese militarism. It accused Japanese politicians of seeking to cover up wartime crimes, distort historical facts and pave the way for accelerating remilitarization.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made a ritual tree stand offering to the war shrine in Tokyo on Saturday, the Japan Times reported. A member of her Cabinet, the Lower House speaker and Upper House president were also among politicians who made such offerings, the newspaper added. The criticism comes amid a deep freeze in ties between the Asian neighbors.
Takaichi said Friday she plans to attend the APEC leaders summit in Shenzhen on Nov. 18-19 if the parliament permits. The embassy’s statement urged Japan to reflect on its history of aggression, face up to the war crimes and exercise caution over issues including the Yasukuni Shrine. It called on Japan to make a clean break with militarism.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing