China deplores Japan's negative moves regarding Yasukuni Shrine

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday that China strongly deplores Japan's negative moves related to the Yasukuni war shrine on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II, and has lodged serious protests against Japan.

The spokesperson said Japan launched the war of aggression and committed horrendous crimes during World War II.

The Yasukuni war shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism, said the spokesperson, adding that it is in fact a shrine for war criminals, as it honors 14 convicted Class-A war criminals responsible for the war of aggression.

No pretext whatsoever can hide the Japanese politicians' true intention which is to change the verdict on the war criminals, cover up Japan's war crimes, distort the historical facts, and pave the way for accelerating remilitarization, said the spokesperson, adding that this is an affront to historical justice, a challenge to the foundational norms of civilization, and a provocation against the postwar international order.

Such actions have been firmly rejected by the overwhelming majority of the international community, the spokesperson noted.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, the spokesperson said, "To view and treat history correctly is an important prerequisite for Japan's postwar return to the international community, the political foundation for Japan's ties with neighboring countries, and more importantly, a key measure for Japan's commitment to peaceful development." "We urge the Japanese side to do serious soul-searching on its history of aggression, make a clean break with militarism, and earn trust from its Asian neighbors and the rest of the world with concrete actions," the spokesperson said.