A group of 168 Japanese lawmakers on Tuesday visited the controversial war-link Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honors Japanese war criminals of World War II.
Beijing and Seoul urged Tokyo to face up to its history of aggression, and objected to a ritual offering made by the Japanese prime minister to a controversial shrine.
Japanese lawmakers visit Yasukuni Shrine
Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso visited the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine Sunday evening amid the shrine's three-day spring festival started Sunday, according to local media.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not visit the notorious Yasukuni Shrine that honors Japanese war criminals of the World War II during the shrine's spring festival in April.
A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Monday denied Japanese media reports stating that a former senior diplomat is planning to visit Japan.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Saturday urged Japan to taking real steps to correct its mistakes over the Diaoyu islands issue, and work with China to prevent the current tension from escalating or even "getting out of control."
In a speech titled "Japan is back", during his visit to Washington, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to reinvigorate Japan's economy and said: "Japan is not, and will never be, a tier-two country."
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua said Sunday that he is optimistic for the future of China-Japan relations, despite the lingering tension between the two nations.
A war is not a rational and realistic solution for problems between China and Japan, said a national political advisor and former defense ministry official here on Sunday.
All Japanese activities regarding the Diaoyu Islands are "illegal and invalid", a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Monday.
Beijing on Friday criticized hostile comments regarding China made by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit to Washington. 
China strongly dissatisfied with Abe's words Diaoyu Islands dispute
Travel agents are reporting a continuing slump in business between China and Japan, even in the run up to Spring Festival.
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