China Protests Japanese Officials' Yasukuni Shrine Visit

The Government of China lodged a formal protest against Japan following actions by high-ranking officials at the Yasukuni shrine on August 16, 2026. The controversy coincided with the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent an offering to the shrine, while Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi conducted a physical visit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China strongly condemned these moves, identifying the shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarism due to the enshrinement of 14 convicted Class-A war criminals.

Chinese officials accused Japanese politicians of attempting to distort historical facts and conceal responsibility for wartime atrocities. Beijing urged Tokyo to confront its wartime history and break with militarism, asserting that a proper understanding of history serves as the political foundation for Japan's relations with its neighbors.