Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao Thursday made a
comment on some Japanese cabinet members' decision to visit the
Yasukuni Shrine, a bastion of the wartime government-sponsored
Shintoism and symbol of militarism in Japan before and during World
War II.
Zhu said that paying homage to the shrine concerns whether or not a
correct attitude is adopted towards the history of aggression
committed by Japanese militarists in the past, which constitutes
the core of the matter.
The shrine houses the memorial tablets of 14 class-A war criminals,
including wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.
According to the spokesman, Japan's attitude towards visit to the
Yasukuni Shrine directly concerns the feelings of the Asian people,
including the Chinese people, who were victimized by Japanese
militarism, and also affects the relations between Japan and other
countries concerned.
Zhu urged the Japanese side to proceed from the perspective of deep
introspection with a correct attitude towards history, and handle
the matter in a cautious manner, so as to win the trust of the
Asian people and maintain the Sino-Japanese friendship with
concrete actions.
(Xinhua)