Abe's Yasukuni Shrine visit a dangerous step

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2nd R) visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 26, 2013. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the WWII Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Thursday, is a dangerous step toward militarism and will lead to further deterioration of China-Japan relations, and regional stability.

The move denies history, hurts the peoples again who were invaded by Japan, and shows the continuous rise of Japan's right wing.

Abe's visit comes on the first anniversary of his assuming office. It is also the first visit by a serving Japanese prime minister since Junichiro Koizumi visited on Aug. 15 in 2006, the day commemorating Japan's unconditional surrender to Allied Forces in 1945.

The notorious Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead including 14 Class-A convicted WWII criminals, arouses nothing but painful memories that Japan brought to China and its other neighbors.

It is like a wound on all war victims that has never truly healed, and the visits by Japanese politicians reopen this old wound, time and time again.

The international community is worried about the intention of Abe and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. His visit shows that militarism has never been rooted out in Japan.

Abe's visit to the shrine, in defiance of strong opposition by China and other East Asian countries, shows Japan's right leaning government and its politicians have never truly reflected on the country's fate in WWII, however, they keep making moves to deny the world system established at the end of the conflict.

Because of this, China-Japan relations have moved sharply backward as since Abe took office.

After Japan's attempt to "purchase" part of the Diaoyu Islands, Chinese territory, Japanese cabinet members visited shrine. Japan is also striving to amend its constitution so that Japan can possess "normal" armed forces with "normal rights" to wage war.

Japanese cabinet approved a national security strategy and revised defense plans earlier this month, seeking a military buildup amid festering historical and territorial disputes.

Japanese government has made provocative statements on China's Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea, ascribing its military buildup and provocative foreign policy to the so-called "China Threat".

Abe and his government must realize the potential danger of their acts and the consequences of a further worsening of China-Japan relations.

China and other peace-loving countries will not let the matter drop until Japan takes positive attitude to history and make efforts to repair damaged ties with China and other countries.

Japanese political parties criticize Abe's Yasukuni visit

Critics included political allies. Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the small New Komeito Party, which is part of the ruling coalition with Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, said his party had consistently urged the prime minister to avoid visiting the shrine. >>>