<p>China condemned a visit by two Japanese ministers to a controversial shrine for war dead on Thursday, further straining already tense relations between Asia's two largest economies.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sino-Japanese relations have soured sharply in the past month when a row over disputed islands led to violent anti-Japanese protests across China and badly hurt trade.<br /><br />The ministers' pilgrimage to the Yasukuni Shrine, seen by many in the region as a symbol of Japan's war-time militarism, came a day after a visit to the site by Japan's main opposition party leader and possible next prime minister, Shinzo Abe.<br /><br />Joint exercise<br /><br />China's official Xinhua news agency, meanwhile, said the Chinese navy would conduct a joint exercise on Friday in the East China Sea with the country's fishery administration and marine surveillance agency.<br /><br />It said the aim of the exercise was for "the effective maintenance of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests".<br /><br />Sino-Japanese relations deteriorated sharply in September after Japan bought the East China Sea islets that both Tokyo and Beijing claim, sparking anti-Japanese protests across China.<br /><br />Land minister Yuichiro Hata and postal service privatization minister Mikio Shimoji were among a group of non-partisan lawmakers visiting the shrine during the autumn festival.<br /><br />Fourteen Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal are honored at the shrine along with other war dead.<br /><br />Private visit<br /><br />Hata told reporters his visit was private. "I visited as a secretary general of the People's New Party. It won't be a big diplomatic problem," said Shimoji, whose party is a small coalition partner of the ruling Democratic Party. <br /><br />China's Foreign Ministry disagreed. "The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual pillar used by Japanese militarism for its overseas aggression. It still enshrines Class A war criminals who owe victimized people heavy bloody debts," spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.<br /><br />"We urge the Japanese side to face squarely and reflect upon history and strictly abide by its solemn statements and pledges regarding historical issues, and face the international community in a responsible manner." <br /><br />Ties have been shadowed for years by what Beijing says has been Tokyo's refusal to admit to wartime atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers in the country between 1931 and 1945.<br /><br /></p>
<p>China condemned a visit by two Japanese ministers to a controversial shrine for war dead on Thursday, further straining already tense relations between Asia's two largest economies.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sino-Japanese relations have soured sharply in the past month when a row over disputed islands led to violent anti-Japanese protests across China and badly hurt trade.<br /><br />The ministers' pilgrimage to the Yasukuni Shrine, seen by many in the region as a symbol of Japan's war-time militarism, came a day after a visit to the site by Japan's main opposition party leader and possible next prime minister, Shinzo Abe.<br /><br />Joint exercise<br /><br />China's official Xinhua news agency, meanwhile, said the Chinese navy would conduct a joint exercise on Friday in the East China Sea with the country's fishery administration and marine surveillance agency.<br /><br />It said the aim of the exercise was for "the effective maintenance of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests".<br /><br />Sino-Japanese relations deteriorated sharply in September after Japan bought the East China Sea islets that both Tokyo and Beijing claim, sparking anti-Japanese protests across China.<br /><br />Land minister Yuichiro Hata and postal service privatization minister Mikio Shimoji were among a group of non-partisan lawmakers visiting the shrine during the autumn festival.<br /><br />Fourteen Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal are honored at the shrine along with other war dead.<br /><br />Private visit<br /><br />Hata told reporters his visit was private. "I visited as a secretary general of the People's New Party. It won't be a big diplomatic problem," said Shimoji, whose party is a small coalition partner of the ruling Democratic Party. <br /><br />China's Foreign Ministry disagreed. "The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual pillar used by Japanese militarism for its overseas aggression. It still enshrines Class A war criminals who owe victimized people heavy bloody debts," spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.<br /><br />"We urge the Japanese side to face squarely and reflect upon history and strictly abide by its solemn statements and pledges regarding historical issues, and face the international community in a responsible manner." <br /><br />Ties have been shadowed for years by what Beijing says has been Tokyo's refusal to admit to wartime atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers in the country between 1931 and 1945.<br /><br /></p>