National News China recalls Wu over Yasukuni

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Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi canceled her talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi because of recent comments by government leaders about visits to Yasukuni Shrine, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said May 24.

Wu cut her visit to Japan short May 23 and left Tokyo without meeting Koizumi, citing unspecified urgent official business. Her abrupt departure prompted Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura to denounce the move and decry the lack of any apology from Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan confirmed that the Wu-Koizumi meeting was canceled because of Beijing's displeasure over the issue of Yasukuni, which honors class-A war criminals along with Japan's war dead.

Kong said Beijing is extremely displeased with comments made by Japanese leaders about Koizumi's contentious Yasukuni visits.

"To our regret, during Vice Premier Wu Yi's stay in Japan, Japanese leaders repeatedly made remarks on visiting Yasukuni Shrine that go against the efforts to improve Sino-Japanese relations," Xinhua quoted Kong as saying. "China is extremely dissatisfied with it."

The week before, Koizumi defended his annual visits to Yasukuni and described criticism from China and South Korea as "interference" in Japan's domestic affairs. (Kyodo)

中国副首相が会談ドタキャン

来日していた中国の呉儀副首相は5月23日、小泉首相との会談をキャンセルし、急きょ帰国した。

Shukan ST: June 3, 2005

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