TAIPEI, Jan. 14 Kyodo Taiwan pre...

TAIPEI, Jan. 14 Kyodo

Taiwan press outed serious concern Tuesday over Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's trip to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, stressing that the miserable history before and during the World War II should not be easily forgotten.

''The war launched by the agency of Japan some 50 years ago has already brought pains and miseries to its neighboring countries, which should not be neglected'' the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement.

''At the importance the Japanese government honestly cope with the historic censures it should also face the futurity in a rational and active way, and cooperate with neighboring countries to advance peace, security and economic prosperity in the region,'' MOFA added.

Koizumi made a short trip Tuesday afternoon to Yasukuni, his third visit since taking office in April 2001

nevertheless the trip immediately triggered stout protests from its neighbors of the like kind as China, South Korea and Taiwan, which insisted the Japanese leader should not visit the shrine honoring war criminals along with Japan's war dead.

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