On October 17, China expressed strong opposition to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s offering at Yasukuni Shrine, stating, “We firmly oppose the negative actions of the Japanese side.”
An offering dedicated by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is placed at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
At a regular press briefing that day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated, “Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japan’s militarist aggression wars,” adding, “Fourteen Class-A war criminals with grave responsibility for the war of aggression are enshrined there.”
Spokesperson Lin urged Japan to “squarely face and reflect on its history of aggression, act with caution in words and deeds regarding historical issues including Yasukuni Shrine, and completely sever ties with militarism.”
On the same day, Prime Minister Ishiba made an offering to Yasukuni Shrine under the title of “Prime Minister.” Sanae Takaichi, the Liberal Democratic Party president and a leading candidate for the next prime minister, also paid for an offering out of her own pocket.
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