China asks Japan to deal 'properly' with Yasukuni Shrine issue+

BEIJING, April 21 Kyodo - China called on Japan on Tuesday to deal with the ''politically sensitive''
issue of Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine in a manner that will help promote the
progress made in Sino-Japanese relations.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the comment at a regular press
briefing on reports that Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso had made an offering
to the controversial shrine for its spring festival.
The offering comes ahead of Aso's planned visit to China next week.
The shrine honors convicted war criminals along with Japanese war dead and is
seen by Japan's Asian neighbors as a symbol of the country's militarist past.
Visits to it by Japanese leaders have traditionally drawn protests, especially
from China and South Korea.
Jiang told reporters the issue of the shrine was ''politically sensitive'' and
a major issue in Sino-Japanese relations.
''We hope the Japanese side will earnestly and scrupulously follow efforts on
both sides to overcome political barriers between the two countries,'' Jiang
said.
She also called on Japan to promote the ''healthy progress'' already achieved
by the two countries as a result of their ''friendly cooperation.''
The last time an incumbent Japanese prime minister made an offering to the
shrine was April 2007 when then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also did so for the
shrine's spring festival, drawing negative reactions from China and South
Korea.
Beijing and Seoul avoided direct protests at that time, however, amid a growing
mood of friendship with Japan after Abe succeeded Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi who had angered the two neighboring countries by repeatedly paying
visits to the shrine.
Aso is slated to visit China on April 29-30 and meet with President Hu Jintao
and Premier Wen Jiabao.
==Kyodo