Ukraine envoy ‘disrespects China’ as Yasukuni Shrine visit sets off social media storm
Online commenters say the timing of the ambassador’s trip to the controversial shrine ‘added salt to the injury’
Sergiy Korsunsky’s visit on Tuesday coincided with commemorations in China of the 79th anniversary of the end of what Beijing calls the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
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Place of controversy: Japan’s Yasukuni Shrine
China’s foreign ministry has not yet commented on Korsunsky’s visit to the shrine which commemorates Japan’s war dead, including 14 class A war criminals. Beijing often protests against official visits and any associated rituals.
Criticism began circulating on Chinese social media soon after the Ukrainian embassy in Japan posted news and pictures of the visit on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The post has since been deleted.
According to the post, Korsunsky performed a ritual handwashing before visiting the shrine, where he left a handwritten message.
Niutanqin, a WeChat account affiliated with state news agency Xinhua, said on Thursday that Korsunsky’s visit was “disrespectful” to China. The hashtag “Ukrainian ambassador to Japan worshipped ghosts” also trended.
Some commenters said that Korsunsky’s choice to visit the shrine on World Anti-Fascist Memorial Day was like adding salt to injury.
