Japan PM's Offering at Controversial War Shrine Angers China, S Korea

China and South Korea are furious after two Japanese Cabinet members visited Yasukuni Shrine over the past weekend; the move is highly controversial, as many view the shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarism and past war-crimes, the Japan Times reported.

Japan's neighbors China and South Korea, both of which suffered immensely from Japanese militarism during the first half of the 20^th Century, see the shrine visits by Japanese officials as attempts to justify war-crimes carried about by the Japanese army before and during World War II.

The two Japanese officials who visited the shrine and paid their respect to the controversial war memorial are Justice Minister Mitsuhide Iwaki and Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

To make things worse Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent his own masakaki, a tree offering to the shrine.

South Korea's foreign ministry criticized Abe's move and said the gesture ran counter to efforts to improve relations between Seoul and Tokyo, especially prior to an upcoming trilateral summit between Japan, South Korea and China in two weeks.

In his defense, the Japanese Prime Minister said he was acting as a private citizen when he sent the ritual offering.

"I'm aware of media reports that Prime Minister Abe sent masakaki, but the action was done as a private individual, so I don't think it's something the government should comment on," Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said, adding that it's a fairly common thing to give prayers to those who gave their lives for their country.

The Chinese government also slammed the shrine visits by the Japanese high-ranking officials, regardless of whether or not Abe's move was done in a private manner.

Instead of sending their offerings and visiting the controversial war memorial, Japan should "face up and deeply reflect on the history of militarism," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.