Japan PM Abe’s visit to Yasukuni shrine irks China, S Korea

Hours after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday visited the controversial Yasukuni war shrine, China and South Korea expressed ire and the US too expressed concerns about a further straining of ties between Japan and its north Asian neighbours.

China and South Korea have repeatedly expressed anger in the past over Japanese politicians' visits to Yasukuni Shrine, where Japanese leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal after World War II are honoured along with those who died in battle.

The two countries have been especially touchy about visits to the shrine by serving Japanese prime ministers, and Abe is the first leader in office to pay homage at Yasukuni in the past seven years.

An enraged China called it a "brazen" move, with foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang saying, "We strongly protest and seriously condemn the Japanese leader's acts. The essence of Japanese leaders' visits to the Yasukuni shrine is to glorify Japan's history of militaristic aggression and colonial rule."

South Korea also slammed the act, calling it ''anachronistic behaviour'' on part of Japan.

''We can't help deploring and expressing anger at the prime minister's visit to the Yasukuni shrine … despite concerns and warnings by neighbouring countries,'' South Korean culture minister Yoo Jin-Ryong told reporters. ''The visit is anachronistic behaviour that fundamentally damages not only relations between the South and Japan but also stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia.''

The US said it was "disappointed" and concerned about the ramifications of the move, cautioning that it may aggravate the tensions already simmering between the Asian neighbours.

"Japan is a valued ally and friend. Nevertheless, the United States is disappointed that Japan's leadership has taken an action that will exacerbate tensions with Japan's neighbours," the US embassy said in a written statement.

"The United States hopes that both Japan and its neighbours will find constructive ways to deal with sensitive issues from the past, to improve their relations, and to promote cooperation in advancing our shared goals of regional peace and stability," the statement said.

"We take note of the Prime Minister's expression of remorse for the past and his reaffirmation of Japan's commitment to peace."

Abe's visit comes exactly one year after he took the Prime Minister's office for a second term, and at a time when China and Japan are already locked in an acrimonious stand-off over the disputed islands in the East China Sea.

Trying to assuage Japan's neighbours, Abe said his visit was ''not intended to hurt the Chinese or South Koreans".

Abe reportedly said, "I chose this day to report (to the souls of the dead) what we have done in the year since the administration launched and to pledge and determine that never again will people suffer in war."