The Foreign Ministry issued a statement today strongly
protesting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit
to?the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors WWII war criminals.
In total disregard for the concern and opposition from the
international community, neighboring Asian countries and the
Japanese people, the statement said, Koizumi insisted on visiting
the Yasukuni Shrine, in a move that "challenges the international
justice and tramples the conscience of mankind."
Koizumi repeatedly offended the Chinese people and his acts have
made him lose credit with the international community and the
Japanese people, and undermined Japan's state image and interests
as well, it said.
The Chinese government expressed "strong protests" against the
visit that severely harmed the feelings of those victimized by the
Japanese militarists' aggression and damaged the political basis of
Sino-Japanese relations, the statement continued.
The maintenance of sound growth in Sino-Japanese relations is in
the fundamental interests of Chinese and Japanese people and
conducive to the peace and stability in Asia and the world at
large, it said.
With joint efforts from Japanese statesmen and people who
cherish and engage in the Sino-Japanese friendship, the Chinese
government and people will be unremittingly committed to peaceful
coexistence, friendship for generations to come, mutually
beneficial cooperation and common development between the two
countries, it added.
"We believe that people of insight from all walks of life in
Japan will follow the historical tide and make efforts to wipe out
political barriers so as to push Sino-Japanese ties back to the
normal track at an early date," it said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2006)
