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Japanese PM's shrine visit triggers outrage
12/26/2013 6:29:37 AM
- Japanese Prime Minister says Japan must never wage war again
- Past visits by Japanese leaders have ignited a firestorm of controversy
- Yasukuni Shrine includes 14 criminals from World War II
- The site was built in 1869
Tokyo (CNN) -- A 30-minute visit to a controversial shrine by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ignited a predictable firestorm of criticism and condemnation Thursday from Japan's neighbors.
The Yasukuni Shrine is regarded by China, North Korea and South Korea as a symbol of Japan's imperial military past. All three countries suffered under Japan's military aggression in World War II.
And each time a top Japanese official has visited, the countries have protested -- saying the visits honor war criminals and deny Japan's atrocities in Asia.
Not so, said Abe on Thursday. He wanted to pray for the souls of the war dead, not honor war criminals, he said.
"I have renewed my determination before the souls of the war dead to firmly uphold the pledge never to wage a war again," he said.
Abe's visit came exactly a year after he took office, during which time he has not met with leaders of either China or South Korea.
"It is not my intention at all to hurt the feelings of the Chinese and Korean people," he said Thursday. "It is my wish to respect each other's character, protect freedom and democracy, and build friendship with China and Korea with respect, as did all the previous Prime Minsiters who visited the Yasukuni Shrine."
It was too little too late.
Immediate outrage
The Chinese foreign ministry immediately issued a tersely-worded statement, saying Beijing "expresses strongest indignation for this act, which heavily offends the Chinese people and people of other Asian countries that were victims of WWII."
"Honoring the shrine is, in its essence, embellishing and falsely beautifying Japan's military invasion and colonization."
Speaking at a press conference, South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that he cannot help but deplore and express anger and urged Japan to stop "beautifying" its invasion.
"History matters because Japan has made it into an issue that further antagonizes China and South Korea at a time when Japan would like their cooperation in dealing with the North Korean threat," said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian studies at Japan's Temple University. "Trampling on the neighbors' sensitivities about their shared past also limits room for managing territorial disputes involving both countries or making headway on a range of other pressing issues."
A matter of perspective?
In his statement after the visit, Abe acknowledged that such visits have become a political and diplomatic issue.
But should it be? It is a matter of perspective, says J. Berkshire Miller, a fellow on Japan at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Pacific Forum.
There are more than 2.4 million names enshrined at Yasukuni. But among them are 14 who were found guilty of war crimes by a Tokyo military tribunal in 1945.
Also, the site remembers Japan's war dead not just from World War II, but also its war against Imperial Germany during World War I and the Satsuma rebellion in the 19th century.
"The problem for Japan is that none of this matters to many of its critics," Miller said.
CNN's Yoko Wakatsuki reported from Tokyo; Ed Payne wrote from Atlanta. CNN's KJ Kwon also contributed from Seoul, South Korea
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