Political parties and people from across the Taiwan Straits have been strong in their criticism of Su Chin-chiang, chairman of the pro-"independence" Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), who visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Monday.
 
The trip to the shrine, where 14 Japanese Class-A war criminals are honoured along with other war dead, has put Su firmly in the firing line.

Taiwan's regional lawmaker Kao-Chin Su-mei voiced her strong objection to Su's visit.

"Japan launched over 160 battles to destroy Taiwan's native people during its 51-year colonization of the island," he said.

"We strongly protest the TSU's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. It is an insult to Taiwan's native people," she was quoted as saying by Taiwan media.

The Kuomintang has also condemned the visit. It said the Yasukuni Shrine, which represents Japan's militarism, has always had a negative image among Asian people. The People First Party also expressed its regret, saying it was extremely inappropriate for Su, as head of the party, to visit the shrine.

Su's actions have received similar condemnation from the mainland.

"Su's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine demonstrates some Taiwan pro-"independence" forces' Japan fixation," said Wang Chang, a Beijing-based civil servant.

"By paying a visit to the controversial shrine, Su has proven himself a person that has completely forgotten his ancestry," said Yang Lei, a Beijing medical worker.

The Yasukuni Shrine issue has long been at the heart of the stalled political relations between Japan and its neighbours who fell victim to Tokyo's wars of aggression.

(China Daily April 6, 2005)