World War-II memorial: China resents Jap PM’s wife visit

Beijing: China on Fridaytook umbrage over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial for Japanese soldiers killed in World War-II, including convicted war criminals.

Akie Abe said on her Facebook account yesterday that she had visited the shrine, which honours Japan's war dead.

"I prayed at Yasukuni. My heart aches when I read the letters and wills (the soldiers) wrote their families. What could their feelings have been as they perished in the battles," Akie wrote on her Facebook account.

China takes exception to such visits as it also honours "Class-A criminals" of World War II, who were accused of committing atrocities in China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei told a media briefing here today.

"We again urge the Japanese side to face up to history and reflect on its aggressive past," Hong said, adding, Japan "should deal with history and gain trust from the international community and its Asian neighbours with real actions".

The Yasukuni Shrine, situated in middle of Tokyo, is seen by many of Japan's neighbours including China and Korea as a symbol of Japan's militarist past and a reminder of Japan's aggression on their countries during World War-II.

Although many Japanese lawmakers have visited the controversial shrine in the past, visits by cabinet ministers had been rare.

Prime Minister Abe had visited the shrine in December 2013 and sent a symbolic offering of a tree last month coinciding with the spring festival.

This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War-II.