Japan rubs it in: Minister visits contentious war shrine 1 week after PM,angers China

But Beijing and Seoul have repeatedly expressed anger over politicians visits to Yasukuni,where Japanese leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal after World War Two are honoured along with those who died in battle.

Both China and Korea suffered under Japanese rule,with parts of China occupied from the 1930s and Korea colonised from 1910 to 1945.

China condemned Wednesdays visit,which it said exposed Japans war crimes and attempts to challenge the outcomes of the worlds anti-fascist war.

The Chinese people and people of other Asian nations will not allow Japan to drive history in reverse. We solemnly urge Japan to reflect upon history and change course, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.