China summons envoy amid Japanese ministers shrine visit angerAugust 15, 2013 - 11:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - China summoned Japan's ambassador on Thursday, August 14 to lodge a strong complaint after two Japanese cabinet ministers publicly paid their respects at a controversial Tokyo shrine for war dead, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters. The ministers' visit to the Yasukuni Shrine "seriously harms the feelings of the people in China and other Asian victim countries", the ministry said in a statement. Visits to the shrine by top Japanese politicians outrage China and South Korea because it honors 14 Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal, along with war dead. For Koreans, the shrine is a reminder of Japan's brutal colonial rule from 1910-1945. China also suffered under Japanese occupation before and during World War Two. Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin summoned Japanese ambassador Masato Kitera for an emergency meeting to lodge "stern representations and express strong opposition and severe condemnation", the ministry said. In April, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not go to the shrine but made an offering to it instead, angering China which said Japan had to face up to its past nationalistic aggression. "It does not matter in what form or using what identity Japanese political leaders visit the Yasukuni Shrine, it is an intrinsic attempt to deny and beautify that history of invasion by the Japanese militarists," the ministry said. "Only by correctly facing history, and using history as a mirror, can Japan face the future. We urge Japan to ... take concrete steps to win the trust of the international community, otherwise Japan's relations with its Asian neighbors have no future." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |