Beijing slams shrine visit by Japan ministers as Emperor Akihito marks the 70th anniversary of end of second world war
'Strong dissatisfaction' voiced by China as nations mark war anniversary
Beijing yesterday voiced "strong dissatisfaction" over a visit by three Japanese cabinet ministers to Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni shrine, as Japanese Emperor Akihito marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war with an expression of "deep remorse" over the conflict and a subtle rebuke to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The visits - on the anniversary of Japan's surrender - came a day after Abe issued a new statement on the war, which China and South Korea said did not amount to a proper apology for Tokyo's past aggression. Abe expressed "utmost grief", but said future generations should not have to keep apologising and offered no fresh apology of his own.
"Some Japanese politicians chose this day to visit the shrine, which honours 'Class A' war criminals and glorifies the aggressive war," the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said.
"It demonstrates again Japan's erroneous attitudes towards the historical issues," it added. "China lodges its resolute opposition and strong dissatisfaction."
Visits by Japanese politicians to Yasukuni enrage neighbouring nations, which view them as an insult and painful reminder of now-pacifist Japan's history.
The shrine is dedicated to millions of Japanese who died in conflicts - but also includes more than a dozen war criminals' names on its honour list and a museum that portrays Japan as a victim of American aggression.
It makes scant reference to the brutality of invading imperial troops when they stormed across Asia - especially China and Korea - in the 20th century.
Abe didn't visit the shrine yesterday but sent a ritual offering. His late 2013 visit drew an angry response from Beijing and Seoul, as well as a rebuke from Washington.
Meanwhile, Emperor Akihito's statement was a departure from his annual script and widely viewed as a subtle rebuke to Abe.
"Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse over the last war, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated," Akihito, 81, said at a memorial service in Tokyo.
Abe received mixed reviews abroad of his speech on Friday.
Tokyo's close ally the United States welcomed his commitment to uphold apologies made in the past.
Beijing said Japan should apologise sincerely to countries that suffered from its military aggression and urged Japan to "take concrete actions to gain the trust of its Asian neighbours and the global community".
South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the speech contained "regrettable elements". She said she hoped Japan "soon and properly" resolved issues regarding women's "honour and dignity".
Abe made no direct reference on Friday to "comfort women", a euphemism for the girls and women - many of them Korean - forced into prostitution at Japanese military brothels.
North Korea condemned what it called an attempt by Japanese "rightist conservatives to conceal its crime-woven past".
In Hong Kong, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying marked the anniversary by attending a dinner with a group of veteran soldiers and 100 representatives from business and civic organisations.The function was co-organised by a clan association of the Woos. Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing was also present, but left before Leung arrived. Tsang recently joked that because of pan-democrat lawmakers' repeated filibustering in Legco, he believed Leung might consider him the worst Legco speaker since the 1997 handover.
