Wu cut her visit to Japan short May 23 and left Tokyo without meeting Koizumi, citing unspecified urgent official business. Her abrupt departure prompted Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura to denounce May 24 the move and decry the lack of any apology from Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan confirmed that the Wu-Koizumi meeting was canceled because of Beijing's displeasure over the issue of Yasukuni Shrine.

"We are very dissatisfied that Japanese leaders made repeated remarks that are negative for the development of better relations during Madame Wu's visit to Japan, which have deprived such meetings of the necessary conditions and atmosphere," Kong said.

On May 16, Koizumi defended his annual visits to Yasukuni and described criticism from China and South Korea as "interference" in Japan's domestic affairs.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 28, 2005
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