Japanese Leaders' Visit to Yasukuni Shrine Unacceptable: Chinese FMChinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Tuesday that the Chinese people and the people of all Asian nations who suffered from Japanese aggression will never accept Japanese leaders' visit to Yasukuni Shrine, a temple that houses the memorial tablets of 14 Class-A World War II criminals, including wartime prime minister Hideki Tojo.Tang's remarks came in his talks with secretaries-general of the three coalition parties of the Japanese government. Taku Yamazaki of the Liberal Democratic Party, Fuyushiba Tetsuzo of the Komei Party, and Takeshi Noda of the Conservative Party were on a three-day visit as guests of Tang. Tang said that the Chinese people are concerned with the development of the problem. Any visit paid by any Japanese leader to the shrine will directly reflect the attitude and position of the Japanese government regarding the history of aggression, Tang said. Fuyushiba Tetsuzo said that the Komei Party does not support its members making formal visits to the shrine. He said that his party respects the feelings of neighboring countries and believes the issue could be properly settled. Takeshi Noda said that it is the consensus of the Japanese people that the tragic history should never be repeated. The Japanese side understands the views of the Chinese people on the issue and is ready to make utmost efforts to find a solution so as to avoid damaging Japan-China relations. |
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