Abe may make offering at Yasukuni
Print Edition
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may make a ritual offering to a shrine seen as a symbol of Japan’s former militarism, a move likely to anger its neighbors.
An offering today, the anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, would highlight the fine line Abe seeks to tread between mending frayed China ties and appealing to his conservative support base. A similar move in April infuriated China and South Korea, victims of Japan’s wartime aggression.
Abe is likely to skip visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, where major war criminals are also honored. But he may make the offering through a representative of his Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese media reported yesterday.
Abe and other conservatives say it is only natural to pay respects at Yasukuni to those who died for their country, especially on August 15.
Tokyo hopes, however, that if Abe stays away it could score points with China and help pave the way for a summit that Japan has been signaling it wants.
At least two cabinet members and a ruling party executive are likely to visit the shrine in central Tokyo, prompting China’s foreign ministry to say last week that visits by Japanese political leaders were unacceptable in any form.
A group of conservative lawmakers are also expected to pay their respects.
Abe plans to strengthen the armed forces, the country’s latest step away from the constraints of its pacifist post-war constitution.
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