People attend a protest near the Peace Momorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 2016. Hiroshima, the city that suffered U.S. atomic bombing in 1945 during World War II, commemorated the 71st anniversary of the bombing on Saturday at the city's Peace Memorial Park. About 1,000 people from all over the country rallied around the park early Saturday morning, protesting against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attendance at the ceremony and his right-minded policies including the controversial security bills. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday voiced "firm" opposition after two Japanese cabinet members paid homage to the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine on the 71st anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II.
"That some Japanese cabinet members paid tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A convicted war criminals and aims to beautify aggression wars, once again proved the Japanese government's wrong attitude to the history-related issue," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said in response to a question from the press.
The Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from the WWII, is regarded as a symbol of the past Japanese militarism.
Lu urged the Japanese side "to squarely face and deeply reflect upon the history of aggression, deal with relative issues in a responsible and appropriate way, and work to win trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community with concrete moves."
Related:
Japan marks 71st anniversary of WWII end, PM failing to mention "reflection"
TOKYO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Japan marked the 71st anniversary of the end of World War II on Monday, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once again failing to mention "reflection" at an annual memorial service and a number of Abe's Cabinet members visiting the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine.
The event came at a time when Japan's newly enacted security laws have enabled the country's self-defense forces to fight wars overseas for the first time since WWII and Japan's pacifist Constitution is more than ever in jeopardy, raising concerns over Japan's shifting away from pacifist path.Full Story
