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China, South Korea angered by Abe’s Yasukuni offering

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday sent a ritual offering to a Tokyo shrine for the war dead, triggering angry criticism from China and South Korea despite his decision not to visit the shrine in person as he seeks a Sino-Japanese summit.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bowing at a ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II at Budokan Hall in Tokyo yesterday.
Photo: Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bowing at a ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II at Budokan Hall in Tokyo yesterday.
Photo: Reuters

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TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday sent a ritual offering to a Tokyo shrine for the war dead, triggering angry criticism from China and South Korea despite his decision not to visit the shrine in person as he seeks a Sino-Japanese summit.

Beijing and Seoul reacted strongly to Mr Abe’s offering to the Yasukuni shrine yesterday — the 69th anniversary of Tokyo’s defeat in World War II. The enshrinement of Class A war criminals, such as wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, among the 2.5 million dead at the shrine makes the visits a target of condemnation from China and South Korea, which suffered from Japan’s aggression during the war.

China criticised Mr Abe’s offering and visits by the ministers to the shrine, saying it “resolutely opposes” the commemoration as the shrine was a spiritual tool of Japanese militarism.

“Only when Japan earnestly faces up to and deeply reflects on its history of aggression, and completely makes a clean break from militarism, can it be possible for Sino-Japanese relations to achieve a healthy and stable development,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

In a speech marking Seoul’s independence from Japanese colonialism, South Korean President Park Geun-hye asked Japanese leaders to act wisely and expressed hope that both countries would move together towards friendlier ties next year.

“The relationship between South Korea and Japan can be developed steadily when Japan solves these matters in the proper way. Then, the two nations can sincerely celebrate the 50th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between them next year.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not go to the shrine, but sent a gift through an envoy. He signed the gift as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, not as Prime Minister, said a party official.

Mr Abe’s visit to Yasukuni last December drew widespread criticism, including from the United States, Japan’s most important ally.

Tokyo had hoped that, by staying away, Mr Abe would send a signal to China of his desire to ease tensions and help pave the way for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Recent tentative moves to meet have yet to bear fruit.

However, China’s official Xinhua news agency said Mr Abe’s show of “compromise and sincerity” was not acceptable. “One who forgets and denies history does not deserve a future,” it added. “It has become a matter of urgency for current Japanese leaders to truly reflect upon the lessons of history, so as to avert a risky future.”

Ties between the two nations have been strained over a host of issues, including a territorial row over a series of islands and Beijing’s declaration late last year of an Air Defence Identification Zone in the East China Sea.

Mr Keiji Furuya, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, one of two ministers who visited Yasukuni, said it was only natural as a Japanese to honour those who had given up their lives for their country.

Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo said his visit was a vow to never wage war again, and shrugged off concern that it might spark a diplomatic row.

At an annual memorial ceremony also attended by Emperor Akihito yesterday, Mr Abe said the sacrifices of the previous generation brought “peace and prosperity” to Japan.

“We must carve out the future of this country for the current and future generations, as we face history with humility and engrave its lessons deeply into our hearts.” Agencies

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