Q: On August 15, some members of the Japanese Cabinet visited the Yasukuni Shrine. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a ritual offering to the shrine. What is China's comment on this?

A: The Yasukuni Shrine that some of the Japanese Cabinet members visited and the Japanese Prime Minister made an offering to is a place that honors Class-A war criminals of World War II and whitewashes Japan's war of aggression. Their acts once again demonstrate the Japanese government's wrongful attitude towards historical issues. China is firmly opposed to that.

The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual vehicle and symbol of the war of aggression that Japanese militarism waged on other countries. The core of all the issues surrounding the Yasukuni Shrine is whether the Japanese government can adopt a correct understanding of and attitude towards its history of aggression, whether it can respect the feelings of the people in the victimized Asian countries, and whether it can honor the positions and commitments it has made so far on historical issues.

Only when Japan honestly faces up to and deeply reflects upon its past of aggression, and truly makes a clean break with militarism can China-Japan relationship has the chance to realize sound and stable development. Once again, we solemnly urge the Japanese side to deal with relevant issues properly in a responsible manner, and win back the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community with concrete actions.