The Hindu : International : China puts on hold visit by Japanese Foreign Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005

International

International

China puts on hold visit by Japanese Foreign Minister

BEIJING: The Chinese people felt ``deeply indignant'' over Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni shrine, which honours Japan's war dead and includes a museum that rationalises Japan's World War II role, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said here on Tuesday.

``Prime Minister Koizumi's visit is a grave incident'', said spokesman Kong Quan at a regular press conference.

A leading official of the Ministry's Asian Affairs Department on Tuesday summoned a Minister from the Japanese embassy in Beijing, notifying him the decision to postpone the Japanese Foreign Minister's proposed visit to China, which was scheduled from October 23-24.

A Ministry press release ascribed the postponement to the ``current stark situation,'' saying the Japanese Foreign Minister's China visit ``is not at an appropriate time and it is inconvenient for the Chinese side to receive him.''

China's stance on the Yasukuni shrine is ``very clear,'' that is, China firmly opposes Japanese leaders visiting the shrine ``at any time or in any form,'' he said.

``Prime Minister Koizumi cannot change the nature of his visit no matter what manner he takes,'' Mr. Kong said, adding it is only natural that China had a strong reaction to the issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing summoned the Japanese ambassador to China, Koreshige Anami, on Monday and read a statement of the Ministry condemning Mr. Koizumi's visit to the shrine.

Chinese ambassador to Japan Wang Yi also lodged a strong protest with Japanese Foreign Minister Machimura Nobutaka on Monday.

Mr. Kong said the Chinese Government values Sino-Japanese ties, and has made ``tremendous efforts'' in developing bilateral relations. — Xinhua

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