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China lodges formal complaint with Japan over Yasukuni Shrine visits
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

China lodges formal complaint with Japan over Yasukuni Shrine visits

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • China formally protested Japan's decision to allow cabinet members to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
  • The shrine honors convicted war criminals, which China views as an affront to historical justice.
  • Beijing urged Japan to reflect on its aggressive history and abandon militarism.

China has lodged a formal protest with Japan following visits by several Japanese cabinet members, including Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. The visits occurred on August 15, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.

Yasukuni is, in reality, a place dedicated to "war criminals," as it honors fourteen politicians and army officers convicted for their crimes after World War II.

— Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokespersonExplaining China's view of the Yasukuni Shrine.

Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs, Hitoshi Kikawada, also visited the shrine in Tokyo. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, known for her revisionist views on Japan's militaristic past, abstained from visiting but sent an offering. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stated that Yasukuni is dedicated to "war criminals," referring to fourteen politicians and army officers convicted for their crimes after WWII.

"No pretext can hide the true intention of Japanese politicians, which is to reverse the verdict on war criminals, cover up Japan's war crimes, distort historical facts, and pave the way for accelerating remilitarization," the spokesperson declared. China views such actions as an affront to historical justice, a challenge to civilization's foundational norms, and a provocation against the post-war international order.

No pretext can hide the true intention of Japanese politicians, which is to reverse the verdict on war criminals, cover up Japan's war crimes, distort historical facts, and pave the way for accelerating remilitarization.

— Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokespersonStating China's interpretation of the Japanese officials' visits to the shrine.

Beijing emphasized that correctly understanding history is crucial for Japan's reintegration into the international community and forms the political basis for its relations with neighboring countries. China urged Japan to seriously reflect on its history of aggression, decisively break with militarism, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the world through concrete actions.

This constitutes an affront to historical justice, a challenge to the foundational norms of civilization, and a provocation against the post-war international order.

— Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokespersonDescribing the impact of the visits from China's perspective.

No sitting Japanese Prime Minister has visited the shrine since Shinzo Abe in December 2013, which drew international criticism. However, various officials, like Takaichi, have continued to send offerings. Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have been strained, particularly since Takaichi suggested in November of the previous year that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan's survival, potentially justifying intervention by its Self-Defense Forces.

We urge the Japanese side to seriously reflect on its history of aggression, to break decisively with militarism, and to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the rest of the world with concrete actions.

— Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokespersonConcluding China's demands to Japan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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