Controversial war shrine visit casts shadow over Korea-China-Japan summit

Two Cabinet ministers are expected to pay a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday, a gesture typically seen by conservatives as honoring the nation’s war dead and by Japan’s neighbors as a snub.

The shrine is viewed by Seoul and Beijing as reflecting Tokyo’s militaristic past.

Although the Japanese fleet review is held every three years, it held added significance this year because of mounting tensions over artificial islands China has built in the South China Sea, as well as new defense legislation in Japan that eases decades-long restrictions on Japan’s military.

On Thursday, Japanese media said Abe invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Japan around spring next year, via a letter delivered by the head of the junior party in Japan’s ruling coalition.

Takaichi said she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the souls of those who died fighting for the country.

She also paid a visit on August 15, the anniversary of the end of World War II.

“By highly hoisting the flag of proactive pacifism, I’m determined to contribute more than ever to world peace and prosperity”, Abe said, while urging Japanese troops to “further fulfill your duties in order to hand over to children a warless and peaceful Japan”.

Iwaki joined the Abe cabinet this month.

The statement said that the stable development in Seoul-Tokyo relations will be made possible only when Japan shows a humble reflection and repentance over its past wrongdoings based on the right perception of history. Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye are expected to hold a bilateral summit on the sidelines of the trilateral meeting.

Abe and other nationalists say the Yasukuni shrine is merely a place to remember fallen soldiers and compare it with Arlington National Cemetery in the United States.

Abe has visited the shrine once before during his time in office, in December 2013.

The ministry also criticized Japanese cabinet ministers for paying respects to the war shrine.