Chinese diplomat in Spain criticizes Japanese FM's Yasukuni defense
中国抗议日本首相参拜靖国神社
The Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Spain has criticized Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida for his comments defending Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine. Kishida said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais, that the shrine not only honors those who died during World War Two, but also honors Japanese martyrs who fought for Japan since 1853.
Huang Yazhong refuted in an article published on the website of the Chinese Embassy to Spain, that 95 percent of the 2.5 million enshrined in Yasukuni died during Japan’s "unjust war" invading neighbouring countries, including 14 Class A war criminals. Huang also said China and Japan have had a friendly relationship in the past.
But the precondition of friendship was that Japan must face history and apologize to its neighbours. He said it was Abe who took Japan on a big step backward on this issue, which outraged people from China and other victim countries.