China protests to Japan over Takaichi’s offerings to Yasukuni Shrine, citing Tokyo Trials anniversary

China has said it has lodged “serious protests” with Japan over offerings that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, and over visits to the shrine by Japanese officials and lawmakers. The position was stated by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at the regular press conference in Beijing on 19 October.

What the spokesperson said

The subject was raised by a reporter from the Global Times, who said Takaichi had sent ritual and cash offerings to the shrine and that several government officials, Liberal Democratic Party politicians and members of the Diet had recently visited. According to the question, the offerings were sent on 17 and 19 October. The published transcript describes offerings, not a visit by the prime minister in person. The names of the visitors are not given, and this article has not found a Japanese government source for the offerings, so the account rests on the question as recorded in the Chinese transcript.

Mao Ning replied that China “firmly opposes and strongly condemns” the moves. She described the shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarist aggression and said it honours 14 convicted Class-A war criminals. She accused Japanese leaders of showing a “malicious intention to erase the criminal record of those war criminals”.

The spokesperson also noted that 2026 is the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials, and called on Japan to “recognize history, repent for historical crimes”.

Other points from the briefing

At the same briefing, asked about a reported proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin for a meeting with the Chinese and US leaders on ending the war in Ukraine, Mao Ning said: “I have no information to share at the moment.” On the Philippines summoning China’s ambassador over his remarks, she said China opposes certain Philippine individuals attacking China and urged Manila to restrain them, adding that better relations serve both sides.

Beijing and Tokyo have traded charges on other files this week. Geopolitiki reported China’s rejection of trilateral nuclear talks and its accusation about Japan’s nuclear ambitions in China rejects trilateral nuclear talks with US and Russia and accuses Japan of nuclear ambitions.

The Japanese side’s response was not available from an official source at the time of writing. All characterisations of the shrine and of Japanese conduct above are those of the Chinese foreign ministry.