China slams Japanese officials' contact with Yasukuni Shrine

Beijing strongly criticized senior Japanese officials' sending a ritual offering to or visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, saying such actions grossly challenged historical justice and human conscience.

China has lodged serious protests with the Japanese side.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Finance Katsunobu Kato and right-wing politicians visited the shrine on Friday, which marked the day of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II.

The shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarists' war of aggression against foreign nations, which honors 14 convicted Class-A war criminals who bear grave responsibilities for the war crimes committed during that war of aggression, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.

Noting this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the spokesperson said that to view and treat history correctly is an important prerequisite for Japan's post-war return to the international community.

"It is the political foundation of Japan's relations with neighboring countries, and more importantly, a yardstick for Japan's commitment to peaceful development."

The spokesperson urged Japan to "face squarely and reflect on its history of aggression, be prudent on historical issues such as the Yasukuni Shrine and make a clean break with militarism."

Tokyo should stick to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through real actions, the spokesperson added.