The Foreign Ministry issues a statement on October 17, 2005 to condemn Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine where 14 WWII Class-A war criminals are honored. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing urgently summoned Japanese Ambassador Koreshige Anami on October 17 to express condemnation. The same day, Chinese Ambassador Wang Yi also lodged a strong protest to Japanese Foreign Minister Machimura Nobutaka for Koizumi's visit. It was Koizumi's fifth visit to the shrine since he took office in April 2001.
