China condemns Japan officials' Yasukuni Shrine visit on WWII anniversary
Cgtn · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
China has strongly condemned Japan after multiple senior government officials visited the Yasukuni war shrine on Saturday, the 81st anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II. The visits by Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, several cabinet ministers, and senior Liberal Democratic Party leaders drew immediate protests from Beijing, which views the shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarism .
Key Points
- Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, becoming the first incumbent defense chief to do so on this anniversary since Minoru Kihara in 2024
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in her capacity as LDP president, sent a tamagushi ritual offering to the shrine while not visiting in person
- Other cabinet ministers who visited included Minoru Kiuchi (Economic and Fiscal Policy), Kimi Onoda (Economic Security), and Hitoshi Kikawada (Regional Revitalization)
- This marked the seventh consecutive year that serving cabinet members visited the shrine on the August 15 anniversary
- The shrine enshrines 14 convicted Class-A war criminals responsible for Japan's wartime aggression
Why It Matters
The visits highlight deepening tensions over historical reconciliation in East Asia, with China and South Korea viewing the shrine worship as a justification of wartime atrocities and a step toward Japanese remilitarization . Japan's continued honoring of war criminals at the site undermines its diplomatic relationships with neighboring countries and challenges the post-war international order established after the Tokyo Trials .
The visits highlight deepening tensions over historical reconciliation in East Asia, with China and South Korea viewing the shrine worship as a justification of wartime atrocities and a step toward Japanese remilitarization . Japan's continued honoring of war criminals at the site undermines its diplomatic relationships with neighboring countries and challenges the post-war international order established after the Tokyo Trials .