With the shrine being a constant source of friction between Japan and several of its Asian neighbors, and particularly his visit there as prime minister in 2013, observers say Abe is likely to refrain from paying a visit during its three-day annual spring festival through Thursday.
By dedicating a "masakaki" tree offering, Abe apparently sought to appease his conservative supporters who want him to pay a visit to the shrine, while leaving room for improving ties with China and South Korea.
[Kyodo]
21/4/15
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Japan, China leaders set to meet at summit, MPs visit controversial shrine...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - Final arrangements are being made for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an Asia-Africa summit in Indonesia on Wednesday, NHK public TV reported, in the latest sign of a thaw in troubled ties.
Relations between the world's second and third biggest economies have chilled in recent years due to feuds over Japan's war-time past, bitter memories of which linger in China, as well as territorial rows and regional rivalry.
A meeting between the two leaders could promote a cautious rapprochement that began when Abe and Xi met at a summit late last year.
Abe is set to speak at the summit, which will be watched for hints about whether he wants to dilute past apologies over World War Two. Such a dilution would not sit well with China, Japan's war-time enemy and main regional rival.
Xi is attending the same summit in Jakarta and Abe has made it clear he wants to meet the Chinese leader in the Indonesian capital. A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman said he could not confirm that plans for a meeting were underway.
A Japanese government source has said that Abe, who returned to power in 2012, would express remorse over the war in Jakarta but media said he would not apologize..........reuters.com
21/4/15
China strongly opposes Japanese lawmakers' visit to Yasukuni shrine ...
ReplyDeleteChina on Wednesday voiced strong opposition to a visit by Japanese lawmakers to the notorious Yasukuni shrine.
"We hope Japanese politicians will take a correct view of history in such a sensitive year, which marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a regular press briefing.
He also urged the Japanese politicians to do more to help Japan reconcile and build trust with its neighbors.
A group of Japanese lawmakers from various parties visited the Yasukuni Shrine Wednesday morning for the annual spring festival, local media reported.
Their visits came a day after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dedicated a "masakaki" tree offering to the shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, including 14 Class-A convicted WWII criminals.
Xinhua-china.org.cn
22/4/15
Japanese PM’s Wife Visits Controversial Shrine ...
ReplyDeleteJapan's first lady has visited the Yasukuni shrine honoring the country's war dead, including convicted war criminals, in a move that risks outraging neighboring countries that suffered under Japan's World War II aggression.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife Akie does not hold political office, but her visit could be seen as symbolic.
Visits by politicians to Yasukuni have in the past angered Japan's neighbors, such as China and South Korea.
Akie Abe posted photos on Facebook of her standing in front of Yasukuni on Thursday.
She says she felt her heart ache while reading the wills and letters soldiers wrote to their families that are exhibited at Yasukuni.
AP
voanews.com
22/5/15
China irked by first lady Abe’s Yasukuni visit...
DeleteChina has expressed displeasure with first lady Akie Abe’s visit to war-related Yasukuni Shrine.
Beijing again urges Japan to squarely face its history of invasion, show remorse and distance itself from militarism, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a news conference Friday.
The Shinto facility in Tokyo is regarded by China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism because it honors Class-A war criminals among the war dead and is viewed as glorifying Japan’s war effort..........japantimes.co.jp
23/5/15