China strongly condemns Japan over shrine visit

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BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China expressed a strong protest and condemnation regarding Japanese cabinet members' visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday.

Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin summoned Japanese ambassador to China Masato Kitera and lodged solemn representations over the issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

It is an open challenge to historical justice and human conscience that Japanese cabinet members visited the shrine which honors Class-A war criminals on the 68th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, Hong said. He added that it severely hurts the feelings of people in victim countries in Asia, including China.

The Yasukuni Shrine issue reflects whether Japan can correctly understand its own militarism and history of aggression, as well as respect the feelings of people in victim countries in Asia, Hong said.

"The attitude of those in power in Japan toward historical issues, including the shrine issue, concerns the political foundation of China-Japan relations," Hong said.

In whatever forms and names the Japanese leaders visit the shrine, the nature is that they attempt to deny and glorify the militarism and history of aggression and challenge the results of World War II and the post-war international order. This will draw firm opposition and unanimous condemnation from China and other Asian countries, he said.

Hong reaffirmed that Japan can only face the future by looking in the mirror of history. He urged Japan to deliver their commitment to deeply reflect upon their history of aggression and make real efforts to gain trust from the international community.

"Otherwise, Japan's relations with its neighboring Asian countries will have no future," the spokesman said.

Repeated visits to the shrine by Japanese leaders and lawmakers have become a major obstacle for Japan to mend ties with its neighbors, especially China and South Korea, which suffered from Japan's invasion during World War II.

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