China's ambassador to Japan criticized Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo
today.
Wang Yi said the Chinese government firmly opposed such visits
to the shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals amongst
about?two million Japanese war dead, at any time and in any
form.
At a time when China was celebrating the successful return of Shenzhou
VI, Koizumi's act constituted a serious provocation to the
Chinese people, said Wang.
He added that Koizumi should take responsibility for undermining
the countries' bilateral relationship.
It is Koizumi's fifth visit to Yasukuni since taking office in
2001.
His previous visits have provoked strong criticism from Japan's
neighbors, especially China and South Korea, making the issue a
major stumbling block in developing smooth relations.
The Osaka High Court ruled on September 30 that the visits were
in his official capacity and had violated the constitution, which
provides for the separation of state and religion.
A district court in Fukuoka prefecture made a similar judgment
in April last year, but eight other rulings by district and high
courts in Japan, including Tokyo High Court, have not found the
visits unconstitutional.
All ten rulings have rejected demands for compensation to
plaintiffs on the basis that the visits did not infringe their
rights. The case has yet to reach the Supreme Court.
(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2005)