According to a report by the Japanese Kyodo News on October 19, Japanese Prime Minister Shida Masako offered 'offering money' (sacrificial fees) to the Yasukuni Shrine on October 19, in honor of war criminals from World War II.
During the autumn festival held at the Yasukuni Shrine in Japan from the 17th to the 19th, Gao Shi did not visit the shrine. However, she had previously offered a sacrifice called "Chinjaku" to the Yasukuni Shrine on the 17th in the capacity of "Prime Minister of the Cabinet".
Yasukuni Shrine is located in the Chiyoda district of Tokyo. The shrine enshrines 14 war criminals of the Second World War, including Hideki Tojo. For a long time, some Japanese politicians and members of parliament have continued to visit Yasukuni Shrine, which has encountered strong opposition from the international community.
Regarding Japan's negative actions related to the Yasukuni Shrine, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated this multiple times.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Japan launched an aggressive war against foreign countries during World War II and committed heinous crimes. The so-called "Yasukuni Shrine" is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism. The 14 Class-A war criminals enshrined in this shrine are the real culprits behind the aggressive wars, and it is, in fact, a "war criminal shrine." No matter what reasons Japanese politicians invent, they cannot hide their true intentions: to rehabilitate war criminals, cover up war crimes, and distort historical facts, thereby paving the way for accelerating militarization. Such wrongful actions are an insult to historical justice, a challenge to the boundaries of civilization, and an offense to the post-war international order. The international community unanimously opposes such actions.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that 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 surrounding countries, and it is also an important criterion for assessing whether Japan can abide by its commitments to peaceful development. We urge Japan to deeply reflect on its aggressive history, completely sever ties with militarism, and take practical actions to earn the trust of Asian neighbors and the international community.
