China denounces Japanese cabinet members' visit to Yasukuni Shrine

BEIJING -- China on Monday voiced "firm" opposition after two Japanese cabinet members paid homage to the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine on the 71st anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II.

"That some Japanese cabinet members paid tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A convicted war criminals and aims to beautify aggression wars, once again proved the Japanese government's wrong attitude to the history-related issue," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said in response to a question from the press.

The Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from the WWII, is regarded as a symbol of the past Japanese militarism.

Lu urged the Japanese side "to squarely face and deeply reflect upon the history of aggression, deal with relative issues in a responsible and appropriate way, and work to win trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community with concrete moves."