China has again addressed the Yasukuni Shrine issue. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang on Tuesday denounced the shrine as a "negative asset for Japan". He added that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s offering at the shrine reflected the current government’s erroneous attitude toward history. The spokesman also said that a recent visit by Japanese lawmakers to the war-linked shrine has further damaged relations between China and Japan.
"The issue of the Yasukuni Shrine is one of Japan’s negative assets. If the Japanese leaders want to continue to shoulder this negative asset, it will become heavier. Unfortunately, after only one night, the negative asset has already become heavier," Qin said.
On Tuesday, Japan's Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo again visited the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, and presented a symbolic gift to honor Japan's war dead. His last visit was on April 12th. 150 other Japanese lawmakers also visited the Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday. The group included members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, and the Japan Restoration Party.
One day earlier, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the shrine that was from the "prime minister" -- breaking a promise not to use his official position when at the shrine. The visits come during the shrine's three-day spring festival, which ends on Wednesday. The Yasukuni Shrine honors Japan's war dead, including 14 Class-A convicted World War Two war criminals. Japan's regional neighbors have regularly voiced their anger over official visits to the shrine.
