WW II shrine visit pits Japan against China

Among the 2.5 million war dead honoured at the shrine are Japanese World War II leaders convicted as war criminals, and the site is seen by Beijing and Seoul as a symbol of Japan8217;s past militarism.

8216;8216;Prime Minister Koizumi has constantly, on historical issues, hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and lost the confidence, not only of the international community, but also of the Japanese people,8217;8217; the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing summoned Japanese Ambassador Yuji Miyamoto to express 8216;8216;strong indignation8217;8217; over the visit, the Xinhua reported.

The reaction of South Korea was similar. 8216;8216;The Japanese prime minister8217;s visit to the Yasukuni shrine is a total disrespect for the Korean government and people, particularly on our independence day and the day of the end of World War II,8217;8217; Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told reporters in Canberra, Australia.

Hours after the visit to the shrine, Koizumi apologised again for the 8216;8216;huge damage and suffering8217;8217; Japan inflicted on Asian nations in World War II. At the official ceremony marking the 61st anniversary of Japan8217;s surrender, Koizumi said, 8216;8216;On behalf of the Japanese people, I sincerely express condolences to the victims with our deep remorse.8217;8217;

The shrine visit was protested in China and South Korea. On Tuesday, many Chinese protesters gathered at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, yelling for a boycott of Japanese goods and calling the country 8216;8216;shameless8217;8217;.

Koizumi is due to retire in September, and Beijing officials hold out some hope that his likely successor8212;Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe8212;may help calm the two countries8217; rocky relations.