China has declared Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is ”not welcome” in the country. China added that the country”s leaders wouldn”t meet Abe accusing him of hypocrisy after he visited a shrine honoring Japan”s war dead. According to China Daily, it is China”s toughest stance since tensions flared last year between the two countries over Diaoyu Islands. Analysts said Abe must apologize for his visit to the shrine honoring war criminals and promise not to visit it again if he really wants to mend ties with neighbors. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that Abe has shut the door on talks with Chinese leaders, referring to Abe”s Dec 26 visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A World War II criminals. During his visit to the shrine, Abe said that relations with China and South Korea were important and he hoped ”for an opportunity to explain both the countries that strengthening ties would be in the national interest,” the report added. (ANI)
