According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, on August 15, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs answered reporters' questions regarding Japanese politicians visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A war criminals.
China strongly condemns Japan's negative actions related to the Yasukuni Shrine, and has made representations and protests to Japan.
Japan waged aggressive wars abroad during World War II and committed brutal crimes. The so-called "Yasukuni Shrine" is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism. The 14 Class-A war criminals enshrined there are the chief culprits behind the aggressive wars, making it essentially a "war criminal shrine." No matter what excuses Japanese politicians come up with, they cannot hide their real intent to reclassify these war criminals, cover up war crimes, and distort historical facts, thereby paving the way for accelerating "re-militarization." Such wrongful actions are an affront to historical justice, a challenge to the boundaries of civilization, and an provocation to the post-war international order. The international community unanimously opposes such actions.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trial. Correctly understanding and dealing with history is an important prerequisite for Japan to return to the international community after the war. It is a political foundation for Japan to develop relations with its neighbors, and it is also an important criterion for determining whether Japan can abide by its promises of peaceful development. We urge Japan to deeply reflect on its history of aggression, completely sever ties with militarism, and take practical actions to gain the trust of Asian neighbors and the international community.
