China has issued a strong condemnation of Japanese officials, including Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, for visiting the Yasukuni Shrine on the 81st anniversary of Japan’s WWII surrender. Beijing lodged a formal protest following the visit, which it views as a provocative act. The Yasukuni Shrine is widely seen in China and across Asia as a symbol of Japanese militarism due to its enshrining of convicted war criminals alongside war dead. While Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit in person, she also participated by sending a ritual offering. This move is expected to further strain already tense relations between China and Japan. The Chinese government maintains that such actions disregard historical lessons and hinder regional peace and stability.