Associated Press

Beijing, May 24:

China today cited its anger over a Tokyo war shrine when explaining why it abruptly pulled out of talks with Japan’s prime minister, while Japanese officials demanded an apology for the snub, in a new surge in tensions between the two Asian heavyweights. The flap over Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi’s cancelled meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo yesterday sparked the most heated exchange in weeks between the two neighbours as they seek to ratchet down rancor that unleashed violent anti-Japanese protests in China last month. China said it was upset over remarks Japanese leaders made during Wu’s eight-day trip about visits to the Yakusuni Shrine, which honours war dead, including convicted war criminals.

China’s Xinhua news agency criticised Koizumi for what it said was his remark that he didn’t see why he should stop visiting the memorial. “We are dissatisfied Japanese leaders have made repeated remarks that are negative for the development of better relations during Madame Wu’s visit to Japan, which have deprived such meetings of necessary conditions and atmosphere,” Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Japanese officials today denounced the abrupt cancellation, with Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura complaining “there was no word of apology.” “In terms of manners, it lacked common sense,” Japan’s Internal Affairs Minister said.