ANKARA

China has lodged a protest after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to the controversial war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo and dozens of lawmakers visited it, state-run media reported Wednesday.

In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Japan called the actions a "blatant affront to historical justice" and said it once again underscores the erroneous attitude of the Japanese government on historical issues, according to the Global Times.

"The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual symbol and tool of Japanese militarism's war of aggression, enshrining 14 Class-A war criminals convicted of heinous crimes during World War II," said the embassy.

On Tuesday, around 70 lawmakers from various political parties paid a visit to the shrine during a three-day spring festival.

Ishiba sent the ritual offering to the shrine on Monday.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry also expressed “deep regret” over the prime minister’s offering and the lawmakers’ visit.

The Yasukuni Shrine was built in 1869 by Emperor Meiji and was dedicated to the Japanese soldiers who died in the wars since the Meiji restoration. It now honors 2.5 million war dead, including 14 convicted war criminals from World War II.

The shrine has long been a source of diplomatic tension between Japan and its neighbors, particularly South Korea and China, which view visits as a sign of Japan’s failure to fully acknowledge its wartime past.

Japan colonized the Korean Peninsula before World War II and launched a military invasion of China.

Conservative Japanese politicians have faced criticism for allegedly downplaying previous government statements of remorse.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid