Two Japanese Cabinet ministers have been seen paying respects at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
The two Japanese ministers visited the shrine on Friday, the anniversary of the end of World War II in 1945. The controversial shrine worships the war dead, including Class-A war criminals. The visits by high-ranking Japanese politicians to the shrine are often criticized by East Asian countries who suffered from Japan’s wartime aggression.
In response to the Japanese ministers’ Yasukuni visit, Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao called on Japan to remember the lessons of history. She also said Japan should be sensitive to the wartime trauma of its neighbors and try to improve relations with them.
Meanwhile, while receiving a Japanese parliament member on Friday, President Ma Ying-jeou said that Japan should honestly face up to what happened in its history. He said the two sides have deep cultural and historical ties, and that they have to work together to further strengthen relations.
