BEIJING, Jan. 1 - Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly criticized Japanese Internal Affairs minister Yoshitaka Shindo for his Yasukuni Shrine visit.

Shindo on Wednesday visited the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine amid strong opposition against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the notorious shrine on Dec. 26.

Shindo's visit to the shrine is another provocation of the Japanese cabinet members on historical issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

His act once again exposed the dangerous intention of the Japanese side to prettify the militarism war criminals and challenge the results of the World War II as well as the post-war international order, Hua said.

Urging the Japanese side to seriously reflect on history and correct errors, Hua stressed that the Chinese and Asian people will never allow Japan to turn back the clock.