Beijing protests Diaoyu incident(2)

Shrine visit

Ties between Beijing and Tokyo have been strained since last September when Japan attempted to "nationalize" the islands. Recently, they have been further haunted by historical issues.

The Yasukuni Shrine visit by Japanese lawmakers marked the first time the number of lawmakers visiting the shrine has exceeded 100 since October 2005, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Japanese senior Vice-Minister of Finance Shunichi Yamaguchi, Senior Vice-Minister of Environment Shinji Inoue and policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Sanae Takaichi were among the visitors.

Their visit followed Abe's ritual offering of a pine tree and three cabinet ministers' weekend visits to the shrine, which honors convicted war criminals during World War II.

Hua, the spokeswoman, said Japanese political leaders should stop taking such actions, which only serve to isolate Tokyo from the international community.

"Regardless of what method or what identity these Japanese leaders assume when they visit the shrine, its nature is to deny Japan's past militaristic aggression," Hua said.

"We urge Japan to be responsible to history, to the people and to the future, and take realistic measures to win the trust of the international community, and stop causing harm to itself and others," she added.

South Korea is also strongly against Japanese leaders' visits to the controversial shrine.

Cho Tai-young, a South Korean government spokesman, expressed deep concern and regret over the visits, calling the shrine "a place to glorify Japan's aggressive war".

A day earlier, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se called off a planned visit to Tokyo, Yonhap News Agency reported.