BEIJING, Jan. 15 -- Compatriots across the Taiwan Strait resolutely condemn Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent visit to the war-linked Yasukuni shrine, said a mainland spokesman on Wednesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference that Abe's conduct was a provocation to the Chinese people and a challenge to the international order after WWII.

Last month, Abe visited the controversial Yasukuni shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, including 14 class-A WWII war criminals.

At the conference, Ma also said the office positively supports Taiwan writer Lung Ying-tai in visiting the mainland at the invitation of the mainland's Cultural Minister Cai Wu.

Ma said he expects the two sides to sign an agreement on cross-Strait cultural exchanges.