Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday sent a ritual offering to a controversial Tokyo shrine for war dead, a move that could anger China as the Asian neighbours prepare for a meeting to help smooth ties.
Abe’s spring festival offering of a “masakaki” ceremonial tree at Yasukuni Shrine, which some see as a symbol of Japanese militarism in World War Two as it honours convicted war criminals among other war dead, comes as Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida prepares to visit Beijing.
Kishida is likely to meet Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on April 30 in a bid to ease friction over issues such as sovereignty disputes over the South China Sea, Japanese media have said.
“I am aware that the prime minister sent a ‘masakaki’ offering,” chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference. “He did it as a private person and did not use public funds.”
Seiichi Eto, a special advisor to Abe, visited the shrine on Thursday morning, Japanese media said. Other lawmakers are expected to pay their respects there on Friday.