The spokesperson of our embassy in Japan answered questions from journalists regarding Japan's negative attitude towards the Yasukuni Shrine.

Question: August 15th is the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in war. Japanese Prime Minister Shimp Isiziro offered offerings to Yasukuni Shrine, and some cabinet members and parliamentarians visited the shrine. What is China's comment on this? 80 years ago today, Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration and unconditionally surrendered. The Chinese people, together with people around the world, defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors and fascism, and achieved a great victory of justice over evil, light over darkness, and progress over reaction. This historic moment is worthy of eternal remembrance by the international community. However, to this day, some forces in Japan still try to beautify aggression, deny aggression, distort history, and even attempt to rehabilitate war criminals. This behavior is disgraceful, a self-inflicted humiliation, a challenge to the United Nations Charter, a challenge to the post-war international order, a challenge to human conscience, and a challenge to the people of all victorious countries. Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism's aggression, enshrining the 14 Class-A war criminals of World War II. The essence of the Yasukuni Shrine issue lies in whether the Japanese side can correctly recognize and deeply reflect on its history of aggression, abide by its statements and commitments on historical issues, adhere to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, uphold the path of peaceful development, and involve aggression and anti-aggression, justice and evil, light and darkness. It is the most important issue. Japanese leaders and politicians' reverent visits to Yasukuni Shrine once again reflect Japan's erroneous attitude towards its history of aggression and show that Japanese militarism has never really disappeared. This further intensifies strong concerns and doubts from neighboring countries in Asia and the international community about Japan's path. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the War of Resistance against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War. Correctly recognizing and treating history is an important precondition for Japan to return to the international community after the war, the political foundation for Japan's development of relations with neighboring countries, and a gauge to assess whether Japan can uphold its commitments to peaceful development. We urge the Japanese side to face and reflect on its history of aggression, to be cautious on historical issues such as the Yasukuni Shrine, to completely sever ties with militarism, and to adhere to the path of peaceful development, building trust among neighboring countries in Asia and the international community through practical actions.