Tokyo, Oct. 18 (ANI): Japan's newly elected opposition leader Shinzo Abe paid a visit to a controversial war shrine in Tokyo, a move expected to increase China and South Korea's anger, with which Japan is currently embroiled in territorial tiffs.
The contentious shrine, which honors the nation's war dead as well as Class-A war criminals, is a symbol of Japan's past military aggression, and is a constant source of diplomatic tension.
"I came as the president of the LDP to pay my respect to the spirits of the soldiers who gave their lives for the country," Abe said after the visit.
"I believe it is common to all countries that their leaders pay respect to the souls of those who died for their countries. It is a way to express the will to maintain peace of their countries and the region," the Japan Times quoted Abe, as saying.
According to the report, Abe's visit comes amid strained diplomatic ties with Beijing and Seoul over separate territorial disputes.
The government nationalized three Senkaku islands after buying them fro their private owners last month, which triggered outrage and unprecedented protests and boycotts in China, which also claims them, known there as Diaoyu.
Former Japanese Prim Minister Junichiro Koizumi strained relations with China and South Korea by repeated visits to the shrine throughout his five-year stint as LDP prime minister that ended in 2006.
When Abe succeeded him, political observers worried he would continue the practice.
Instead, in a surprising move, Abe went to China and South Korea to mend ties, the report said.
Throughout his one-year stint as prime minister, he refused to confirm or deny visiting the shrine.
However, at a news conference in September during the LDP presidential race, Abe expressed regret for not having visited Yasukuni while in office, it added. (ANI)
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