TOKYO, Oct 18: Japanese internal affairs minister Yoshitaka Shindo visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine for war dead today, a move likely to anger Asian victims of Japan’s past aggression.
The visit came a day after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made his third ritual offering to the shrine since returning to office in December. Abe has not visited the shrine in person to avoid further straining ties with China and South Korea.
Shindo’s visit came after China’s Foreign Ministry admonished Abe yesterday, telling him not to go there in person out of respect for China and "other victimized countries".
Similar rebukes can be expected after Shindo’s visit, with other lawmakers also expected to pay their respects during the shrine’s autumn festival, which ends on Sunday.
"I visited the shrine in a private capacity," Shindo said, noting that his grandfather is honoured there. "I do not think this will become a diplomatic issue."
As well as Japan’s war dead, Yasukuni also honours Japanese leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal.
(agencies)
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