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Japan: About 150 Lawmakers and Minister Visit War Shrine Japan: About 150 Lawmakers and Minister Visit War Shrine
(about 2 hours later)
A Japanese cabinet minister and about 150 lawmakers visited Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday, fueling anger among Asian neighbors who see the shrine as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism, and frustration by the United States a day before President Obama visits Japan. The visits followed an offering to the shrine by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday that further strained already fraught regional ties, with both China and South Korea questioning Japan’s commitment to dialogue. The United States is concerned that such gestures could isolate Japan at a time when China is challenging American dominance in the region. The cabinet member, Internal Affairs Minister Yoshitaka Shindo, above, told reporters, “As this was my personal visit, I don’t believe that it will have any effect on the U.S. president’s visit.” China’s official Xinhua news agency called it “a new act of provocation.” A Japanese cabinet minister and about 150 lawmakers visited Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday, fueling anger among Asian neighbors who see the shrine as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism, and frustration by the United States a day before President Obama visits Japan. The visits followed an offering to the shrine by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday that further strained already fraught regional ties, with both China and South Korea questioning Japan’s commitment to dialogue. The United States is concerned that such gestures could isolate Japan at a time when China is challenging American dominance in the region. The cabinet member, Internal Affairs Minister Yoshitaka Shindo, pictured, told reporters, “As this was my personal visit, I don’t believe that it will have any effect on the U.S. president’s visit.”