Koizumi's shrine visit draws rage, protests By Guo Nei (China Daily) Updated: 2005-10-18 05:51
China yesterday lodged a strong protest over Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine a symbol of Japanese militarism
and expressed strong indignation.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
arrives at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Monday, Oct. 17,
2005.[AP] |
The Foreign Ministry issued a firmly-worded statement yesterday condemning
the move.
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing urgently summoned Japanese Ambassador to China
Koreshige Anami to express condemnation.
Despite the opposition from China and other Asian countries and their
peoples, Koizumi once again visited Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Class A war
criminals of World War II are honoured, the statement said.
Such a move "randomly hurt the feelings and dignity" of the victimized
countries and their peoples during the war and "seriously undermined
Sino-Japanese relations", it said.
It was Koizumi's fifth visit to the shrine since he took office in April
2001. Despite the Chinese side's sincerity and efforts at safeguarding
Sino-Japanese relations, Koizumi, "obstinately sticks to a wrong and dangerous
course, which cannot but outrage us," it said.
Koizumi "must shoulder all responsibilities for the severe political
consequences resulting from his wrongdoing," it said.
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