China and South Korea condemn Japanese ministers’ Yasukuni Shrine visits

Saturday 15 August 2026 - 19:15

By: Sahili Aya

China and South Korea condemn Japanese ministers’ Yasukuni Shrine visits

Diplomatic tensions in East Asia have intensified after Japanese ministers visited Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, prompting sharp criticism from China and South Korea over a site that remains deeply associated with Japan’s wartime history.

The controversy emerged on the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the shrine, while Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda and other Cabinet members were also reported to have attended. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not make the visit herself but sent a ritual offering.

For Beijing and Seoul, the gestures revived longstanding concerns over how Japan addresses its wartime past and the symbolism attached to Yasukuni.

Beijing accuses Tokyo of challenging the postwar order

China responded by lodging what it described as serious protests with the Japanese government.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Beijing strongly objected to the latest actions surrounding Yasukuni, describing the shrine as closely linked to Japanese militarism. The site honors millions of Japanese war dead, among them 14 Class-A war criminals convicted after World War II.

Chinese authorities argued that visits by senior Japanese politicians risk obscuring the historical record and weakening the international framework established after the war.

Beijing also accused Japanese political figures of seeking to reshape perceptions of wartime responsibility and warned that such actions could contribute to a renewed emphasis on military power.

The unusually forceful language reflects the sensitivity surrounding historical memory in relations between China and Japan, particularly as both countries navigate wider strategic competition in the region.

South Korea calls for greater historical accountability

South Korea also expressed strong disapproval of the ministers’ visits.

Seoul said Japanese leaders should confront the country’s wartime history and demonstrate a greater willingness to acknowledge the suffering caused by Japan’s past aggression.

For South Korean officials, Yasukuni remains particularly contentious because the shrine is viewed as glorifying Japan’s military expansion while honoring convicted war criminals.

The issue carries a deep historical resonance in South Korea, which was under Japanese colonial rule before and during World War II. Seoul has repeatedly argued that meaningful acknowledgment of the past is essential to building lasting trust between the two countries.

The latest dispute comes despite efforts by Japan and South Korea to strengthen their cooperation on security and regional issues, making historical disagreements an enduring obstacle to closer ties.

Takaichi emphasizes peace without repeating previous wording

The controversy was further fueled by Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks at Japan’s official memorial ceremony in Tokyo.

Speaking before bereaved families and other attendees, Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to peace and said the country had consistently pursued a peaceful national path while contributing to international stability and prosperity.

Her speech, however, did not include an explicit expression of wartime “remorse.”

That omission drew attention because former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had used such language during the previous year’s commemoration and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to rejecting war.

Takaichi, who became prime minister last October, therefore delivered her message against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny over the Japanese government’s approach to historical remembrance.

Why Yasukuni remains a diplomatic flashpoint

Established in 1869 during the Meiji era, Yasukuni Shrine was created to commemorate Japanese soldiers who died in conflicts following the Meiji Restoration. The shrine now enshrines around 2.5 million war dead.

Its inclusion of 14 Class-A war criminals has transformed it into one of the most politically sensitive symbols of Japan’s wartime legacy.

Visits by Japanese political leaders have repeatedly triggered diplomatic protests from China and South Korea, particularly when they coincide with major wartime anniversaries.

The dispute reflects a broader disagreement over how Japan should balance remembrance of its war dead with acknowledgment of responsibility for wartime aggression.

Historical disputes continue to shape regional diplomacy

The latest confrontation illustrates how unresolved questions about history continue to influence relations among the major powers of East Asia.

Japan, China and South Korea share important economic and security interests, but disagreements over wartime memory can quickly become diplomatic flashpoints.

For Beijing and Seoul, the Yasukuni issue is not simply a matter of commemoration. It is connected to questions of historical responsibility and the political direction of modern Japan.

Tokyo, meanwhile, faces competing expectations at home and abroad over how its leaders should commemorate those who died in past conflicts.

As regional governments seek closer cooperation on contemporary challenges, the latest Yasukuni controversy demonstrates that the legacy of World War II remains an influential factor in East Asian diplomacy.