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▼ Takaichi May Skip Yasukuni Visit During Autumn Festival
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Sanae Takaichi, the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is considering skipping a visit to Tokyo's war-linked Yasukuni Shrine during its autumn festival set to be held between Oct. 17 and 19, sources have said.
Takaichi has often visited the Shinto shrine during its spring and autumn festivals and on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, including at times when she held ministerial posts.
This time, however, she is apparently taking into account the impact any visit might have ahead of busy diplomatic schedule later this month and how it could hurt relations with Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, if she is elected prime minister, as is widely expected, the sources said. Komeito has expressed concern over her Yasukuni visits.
At a news conference just after she was elected LDP chief on Saturday, Takaichi did not make a clear-cut announcement on whether she would visit Yasukuni if she succeeds outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
"I'll make a timely and appropriate decision on how to pay my respects to the war dead," she said, adding that visits "should never be made into a diplomatic issue."
A series of summits related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are set to kick off Oct. 26 in Malaysia, while Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-related summits are slated to take place in South Korea from Oct. 31.
Japan's next prime minister is expected to attend these meetings.
The Japanese government hopes to set up a bilateral summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the margin of the APEC summit, and a meeting between the Japanese and South Korean leaders is also expected to be held during the forum.
U.S. President Donald Trump is also eyeing a visit to Japan from Oct. 27.
Takaichi apparently believes that a trip to Yasukuni could adversely affect growing trilateral cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea, which is considered crucial to Tokyo and Washington amid the tough regional security situation, the sources said.
Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A war criminals among other war dead, is regarded as a symbol of Japan's past militarism by some Asian countries, including China and South Korea.
Parliament is expected convene soon for an extraordinary session, where it will select a new prime minister.
Takaichi has often visited the Shinto shrine during its spring and autumn festivals and on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, including at times when she held ministerial posts.
This time, however, she is apparently taking into account the impact any visit might have ahead of busy diplomatic schedule later this month and how it could hurt relations with Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, if she is elected prime minister, as is widely expected, the sources said. Komeito has expressed concern over her Yasukuni visits.
At a news conference just after she was elected LDP chief on Saturday, Takaichi did not make a clear-cut announcement on whether she would visit Yasukuni if she succeeds outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
"I'll make a timely and appropriate decision on how to pay my respects to the war dead," she said, adding that visits "should never be made into a diplomatic issue."
A series of summits related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are set to kick off Oct. 26 in Malaysia, while Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-related summits are slated to take place in South Korea from Oct. 31.
Japan's next prime minister is expected to attend these meetings.
The Japanese government hopes to set up a bilateral summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the margin of the APEC summit, and a meeting between the Japanese and South Korean leaders is also expected to be held during the forum.
U.S. President Donald Trump is also eyeing a visit to Japan from Oct. 27.
Takaichi apparently believes that a trip to Yasukuni could adversely affect growing trilateral cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea, which is considered crucial to Tokyo and Washington amid the tough regional security situation, the sources said.
Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A war criminals among other war dead, is regarded as a symbol of Japan's past militarism by some Asian countries, including China and South Korea.
Parliament is expected convene soon for an extraordinary session, where it will select a new prime minister.
- 9/10 19:24
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