China Condemns Japan Over Yasukuni Shrine Offerings
On.cc · 4 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
China has sharpened its criticism of Japanese political leaders over Yasukuni Shrine, after previously disclosed internal records and fresh shrine-related moves reignited the historical dispute. On October 15, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said newly revealed internal meeting records showed the Japanese government at the time knew enshrining Class-A war criminals was deeply problematic and handled the decision in secrecy. The row intensified again on October 17, when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi offered a ritual sakaki tree branch in the name of the prime minister for the shrine’s autumn festival, while some cabinet members and lawmakers also paid respects or planned visits. South Korea separately expressed deep disappointment and regret over offerings and visits by senior Japanese officials
Key Points
- Mao Ning said on October 15 that newly published internal Yasukuni Shrine meeting records again showed the Japanese government knew enshrining Class-A war criminals was disgraceful
- She said Japanese leaders repeatedly paying respects at what she called a de facto “war criminals’ shrine” raised a basic question of conscience
- Yasukuni Shrine began its three-day autumn festival on October 17, and Takaichi offered a “masakaki” ritual item in her capacity as prime minister
- Japanese media, as cited by CRHK, said Takaichi was not expected to visit during the autumn rites, possibly to avoid angering China and South Korea
- China’s embassy in Japan said on October 17 that Yasukuni enshrines 14 Class-A war criminals and called related Japanese actions a desecration of historical justice
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the dispute matters because it keeps wartime memory and East Asian diplomacy at the centre of regional politics, affecting the tone of China-Japan and Japan-South Korea relations. It also shows how symbolic acts by leaders can quickly trigger coordinated diplomatic criticism from Beijing and Seoul, with history remaining a live political fault line in the region.