Japanese PM's Yasukuni Offering Draws China, S. Korea Criticism

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday, April 22, prompting sharp criticism from China and South Korea, who regard the site as a symbol of Japan's militarist history during World War II.

The offering, a masakaki tree used in Shinto rituals, was made during the shrine's three-day spring festival. Takaichi did not visit the site in person, according to officials and reports from public broadcaster NHK. The shrine honors 2.5 million people who died in conflicts since the late 19th century, including more than 1,000 members of Japan's military. Among those enshrined are 14 figures convicted as Class A war criminals by a post-World War II international tribunal, such as former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, executed in 1948 for crimes against peace.

China's Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation, describing the shrine as a "spiritual instrument and symbol of the wars of aggression launched by Japanese militarism." Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that Beijing "firmly opposes and strongly condemns" Japan's actions regarding Yasukuni and has lodged a formal protest with Tokyo. The ministry highlighted the offering as a...