CRI听力:Abe's Shrine Visit Deplored at Home and Abroad

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Thursday.

The move immediately triggered protest and condemnation from China and South Korea.

On Saturday, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi became the most senior Chinese official to voice China's objection to Abe's move.

"The shrine visit has blatantly hurt the feelings of the people, who once suffered under Japan's militarist aggression and colonial rule. The visit is also an arrogant challenge to the achievements of the global anti-fascist war and post-war order based on the UN Charter. Abe's perverse actions have certainly inspired strong objections and grave condemnation from the Chinese government and the Chinese people, as well as the international community."

The Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 Class-A World War II criminals, convicted by an allied tribunal after the war. The shrine is seen as a symbol of Japan's past wartime militarism, which led to mass civilian deaths in East Asia during World War II.

Abe's shrine visit has already drawn criticism from the international community, including the UN, the United States, and the EU.

Moreover, some public figures within Japan have also joined the chorus of condemnation.

Ogata Ysuo is vice-chairman of the Communist Party of Japan, an opposition party that has long been against the visit to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese statesmen.

"Abe's visit to such a place is nothing other than endorsing, even glorifying the war of aggression. Before Abe's visit, there were voices against it from within Japan and the international community. He ignored the suggestions and flagrantly made the visit as if declaring the rightness of the war of aggression to the world."

Ysuo pointed out that the Yasukuni Shrine represents the Japanese government's flawed historical perspective.

He called on the Japanese government to correct its understanding of history and create a peaceful situation in East Asia.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi also pointed out that the essence of the Yasukuni Shrine issue lies in whether the Japanese government can correctly reflect upon Japan's history of militarism and colonization.

He said the visit to the shrine paid by Abe as the Japanese Prime Minister is neither an internal affair for Japan nor a personal issue. Instead, it concerns right and wrong and whether Japan will continue to take the path of peaceful development.

"The Chinese, Asian and international community should never be insulted. Abe must admit and correct his mistakes, and take concrete measures to get rid of the bad consequences of his grave mistakes. We urge Abe to stop any day-dreaming and change direction. Otherwise, he will certainly lose more trust from his Asian neighbors and the international community and become an absolute loser in history."

Abe's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine marks the first one from a sitting Japanese prime minister in seven years. His visit also came on the day marking his first anniversary of returning to the premiership.

For CRI, I'm Yin Xiuqi.