China has declined to accept a visit by Transport Minister Hajime Morita, in what some see as an indication of its displeasure over his visit to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, it was learned Thursday.
The Chinese government notified the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Monday of its desire to see Morita refrain from visiting China, Japanese Foreign Ministry sources said.
Morita planned to visit China from Sept. 6 to Sept. 9 to discuss the possibility of Japan taking part in a high-speed railway project in China.
The Chinese told the Japanese Embassy that officials concerned will be busy and will not be able to say anything about the railway project during the period when Morita wants to visit, according to the sources.
On Aug. 8, Morita announced plans to visit Yasukuni Shrine, which is dedicated to Japan's war dead, including class-A war criminals, in his official capacity. He made the visit Tuesday, on the 55th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. Nine other Cabinet ministers also visited the shrine.
China's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the cancellation is not linked to the controversial visit.
A ministry spokesman said China informed Japan of the cancellation Monday, the day before Morita visited the shrine. "The Ministry of Railways had already informed Japan of the situation on Aug. 14," he said.
An official of the Ministry of Railways also said the cancellation had nothing to do with the Yasukuni Shrine visit. The ministry also noted that Japan's transport minister has already visited China this year.
On Tuesday, China's official Xinhua news agency criticized the visits, saying the Japanese ministers ignored the feelings and opposition of people in the neighboring country.
While confirming China's negative response to his planned visit, Morita said views linking the move to his shrine visit are just speculation.