Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was warned repeatedly not to visit the controversial site.
But despite the warnings from numerous sources, including Chinese and South Korean authorities who predictably would vehemently oppose such a visit, he deliberately chose to ignore the obvious political risks, persisted in visiting the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo.
Thus, to no one鈥檚 surprise, the late-December visit to the shrine was immediately denounced by many in China and South Korea. They criticized the Japanese leader for formally visiting a site that, while it honoured Japan鈥檚 2.5 million war dead, also included 14 military officers found guilty of war crimes by an Allied tribunal following the Second World War, all of whom were executed or died while awaiting sentencing.
Prior to the predictable outraged reaction to his visit to the controversial shrine, Abe had publicly stated he made the visit to simply demonstrate his respect for all those who had fallen while serving on behalf of their country. He suggested he didn鈥檛 believe this respect for Japan鈥檚 war dead should be viewed in political terms or adversely affect relations with Japan鈥檚 neighbours.
However, his view obviously would not be shared by many Chinese or South Koreans.
On Dec. 30, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, Qin Gang, stated that Abe鈥檚 visit to the Yasukuni shrine had seriously hurt relations between the countries and shut the door on dialogue between the leaders.
According to the spokesman, 鈥淎be鈥檚 hypocrisy in his claims of prioritizing relations with China and hope for dialogue with the Chinese leaders has been fully revealed.鈥� The spokesman said, 鈥淭he Chinese people do not welcome him. Now, Abe needs to admit his mistakes to the government and people of China, cut loose from the past and make a new start.鈥�
Notwithstanding the seemingly harsh tone of the Chinese spokesman鈥檚 criticisms of Japan鈥檚 prime minister, it鈥檚 noteworthy that a relatively low-level official was chosen to criticize the Japanese leader, rather than have a high-level Chinese leader do so.
This suggests the Chinese government鈥檚 apparent anger over the visit was at least partially intended for the Chinese population at a time when relations with Japan have been adversely affected by territorial disputes, particularly over contested islands.
In fact, the current dispute over five islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan reached the boiling point with Beijing announcing it had established an air-defence zone in the contested area and foreign aircraft were required to provide advance notice of flights into the newly established Chinese-controlled zone.
This action by Beijing was rejected by Washington, which continued to carry out what it described as normal military 鈥渢raining flights鈥� from American bases in distant Guam. Taiwan also reportedly carried out flights in the contested area.
Although no incidents occurred in the disputed zone, the dispute over the area is indicative of just how volatile the situation in contested waters can become if countries do not exercise prudence over territorial disputes.
Adding her voice to the latest dispute over the Yasukuni shrine, South Korea鈥檚 President Park Geun-hye expressed her concern saying, 鈥淚 hope that there won鈥檛 be any act of breaking down country-to-country relations by digging up the wounds of the past.鈥� (The controversy over women being forced into Japanese military brothels remains a highly sensitive issue in Korea.)
The South Korean leader鈥檚 relatively mild comments arising from the controversial visit were considerably softer than those occurring in the past when Japanese officials visited the shrine. Her approach suggested she preferred not to let the visit undermine regional stability and co-operation when tension among such powerful neighbours as China and Japan could have unpredictable repercussions for the entire region.
Whether the South Korean leader鈥檚 seemingly more moderate approach toward resolving regional issues with neighbours will also be shared by China and Japan could be extremely important in coming days for regional stability in East Asia.
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Harry Sterling, a former diplomat, is an Ottawa-based commentator who writes regularly on Asian issues. He served in South Korea.
