China conveys 'grave concern' to Japan over Aso's Yasukuni offerings

Thursday 23rd April, 03:36 PM JST

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OssanAmerica at 08:02 PM JST - 23rd April

As compared to just a few years ago I tend to think this expression of "grave concern" is about as far as it will go. China itself abandoned the anti-Japan diplomatic policy as not being beneficial and now with the whole world in the same economic sinking boat this is no time for such political games. China has it's own hands full and inciting rampant nationalism isn't the cure.
MeanRingo at 08:42 PM JST - 23rd April

Again, the problem is the Chinese didn't use Japanese babies for bayonet practice. Hence the anger. Sounds reasonable. Still, the Chinese have also done a few bad things in their days. But the baby skewers may have been a little much.
OssanAmerica at 09:41 PM JST - 23rd April

Again, the problem is the Chinese didn't use Japanese babies for bayonet >practice. Hence the anger.

This is one of the still debated aspects of some of the claims. It's very biased of you to make such a decalaration as if it were an established fact. But you are correct in "hence the anger" as it encites hatred without any regard for verification.

Moderator: Readers, please keep the discussion focused on the Yasukuni Shrine visits.
grafton at 09:42 PM JST - 23rd April

MeanRingo at 08:42 PM JST - 23rd April

In a war that lasted from the early 30s through to 1945 this is the best you could find? Really you are just not trying hard enough. Though in relation to this let me point something obvious out to you. After 1945 China was in a position to show the world anything bad about Japan that they wanted to, obviously, & yes, there was a lot to show. Japan however could do nothing about their civilians that had been left behind in China & China didn’t tell the world what happened to them. No, two wrongs do not make a right, but a little common sense balance never goes amiss unless, of course you simply wish to show what a wonderfully well read person with high moral values you are. China really couldn’t give a damn about the shrine visits, but having made so much noise in the past they also couldn’t stay silent this time, so they expressed a little grave concern & that will be the end of it.
JeffLee at 10:12 PM JST - 23rd April

You gaijin posters don't seem to realize the suffering that China and the rest of Asia endured during the war. The Japanese killed about 10 million Asians. For Japan's current leaders to formally honor those responsible is reprehensible.

And yes, it IS comparable to today's German Cabinet members praying to the souls of Hitler and the SAS.
HonestDictator at 11:13 PM JST - 23rd April

Jeez Jeff, China still needs to let it go. If you haven't recalled, Yasukuni has been around for a lot longer than the Japanese occupation of China. Just because they go there to pray doesn't mean that all they're praying for is "the war criminals" which seems to be the ONLY focus of China's hatred with no regard to the other souls buried there...
HonestDictator at 11:24 PM JST - 23rd April

The shrine contains honors for 2.4+ million people that died in wars and was created around 1869. Of that 2.4+million only 1,000 are considered war criminals due to the time period of the occupation of China and WWII. Looking at a mole hill and trying to make it into a mountain. Wars happen, and they're written into history books so we don't make the same mistakes and learn from other peoples mistakes.

Moderator: Readers, please keep the discussion focused on the visits to Yasukuni Shrine by Aso and the Diet members.
some14some at 11:40 PM JST - 23rd April

When the news appears 24hr after event, the word 'grave' becomes meaningless. This is nothing but a press statement for media business, not for the politicians or general public.
meiwaku at 01:05 AM JST - 24th April

Get a grip China! If you had it your way, the world would go off its handle on the anniversay of the Tiannamen massacre every year. China needs to shut its mouth!
meiwaku at 01:08 AM JST - 24th April

China loves all the money Japan has invested in China over the past 50 years but loves to critisize every move that Japan makes otherwise. Get real!
meiwaku at 01:27 AM JST - 24th April

"grave concern indeed!"
wasurenaide at 09:33 AM JST - 24th April

I love it when people point out China's other faults every time China complains about the way Japan dealt with histroy. Chinese wrong doings are independent to whether Japan needs to reassess their attitude on WWII and vice versa. The Yasukuni Shrine has more than just war crimminals- good point, but the war crimminals are still there and probably included in these offerings. Guess there's not way around it.
onewrldoneppl at 12:08 PM JST - 24th April

the chinese (and the russians) expressed no similar reservations when they sent delegates to the DPRK to celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong Il. a living war criminal. chinese hypocrisy/stupidity knows no limits. why do they still have a seat on the UN security council?
rogerbentham at 02:24 PM JST - 24th April

does a memorial site have to get mixed up with a religion, i.e. shinto? we've got a similar place in the smithsonian.
frankthedm at 09:49 AM JST - 28th April

This is one of the still debated aspects of some of the claims. It's very biased of you to make such a decalaration as if it were an established fact. But you are correct in "hence the anger" as it encites hatred without any regard for verification.

Moderator: Readers, please keep the discussion focused on the Yasukuni Shrine visits.

The atrocities are very much on topic. Those deeds are why people are fuming mad about the shine.