China Expresses Strong Dissatisfaction over Japanese PM's Shrine Visit

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 22, 2002

China Expresses Strong Dissatisfaction over Japanese PM's Shrine Visit

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China has expressed strong dissatisfaction over Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine this morning, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Sunday.

"China firmly opposes to Japanese leader's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in any way and at any time," Zhang said, noting that the shrine houses tablets for Class A war criminals.

Such a move can only hurt Japan's own image and make it more difficult for the country to win trust of peoples in Asian countries on history issues, the spokeswoman said.

Koizumi made a surprise visit to the shrine this morning, his second visit after he became prime minister. Koizumi made his first visit on August 13, 2001, drawing strong protests from Asian nations that suffered from Japanese aggression during World War II.

Vice-FM Summons Japanese Ambassador

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami, in Beijing Sunday, to express China's strong objection to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday morning.

Li said the Japanese leader had visited the shrine again, in defiance of the strong opposition from the people of Japan's neighboring countries in Asia following his previous visit. To revisit the shrine, Li added, was an erroneous action that harms the feelings of the Chinese people and is detrimental to Sino- Japanese relations.

The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and is firmly opposed to Japan's action, Li noted.

Koizumi's Sunday surprise visit to the shrine is his second since becoming prime minister. His first visit on August 13, 2001, drew strong protests from the Asian nations which suffered under Japanese aggression during World War II.

The Yasukuni Shrine is considered a symbol of Japan's wartime imperialism. It was built to honor 2.5 million war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals who were put to justice after World War II.

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