Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine for war dead to mark the annual autumn festival at the shrine, which is seen in China and the two Koreas as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. Past visits by Japanese leaders to Yasukuni have outraged Beijing and Seoul because it honours 14 Japanese leaders convicted by an Allied tribunal as war criminals, along with war dead. <br/><br/>Abe has only visited the shrine in person once, in December 2013, since becoming premier the previous year. Keen to improve relations with China and South Korea, affected by territorial disputes, Abe has instead opted to send ritual offerings on several occasions, including today, a spokeswoman for Yasukuni said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine for war dead today to mark the annual autumn festival at the shrine, which is seen in China and the two Koreas as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. Past visits by Japanese leaders to Yasukuni have outraged Beijing and Seoul because it honours 14 Japanese leaders convicted by an Allied tribunal as war criminals, along with war dead. <br/><br/>Abe has only visited the shrine in person once, in December 2013, since becoming premier the previous year. Keen to improve relations with China and South Korea, affected by territorial disputes, Abe has instead opted to send ritual offerings on several occasions, including today, a spokeswoman for Yasukuni said.