Beijing, Jan 1 (IANS): The Chinese foreign ministry Wednesday strongly criticised Japanese Internal Affairs Minister Yoshitaka Shindo for his Yasukuni Shrine visit.

Shindo Wednesday visited the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine amid strong opposition against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the notorious shrine Dec 26.

Shindo's visit to the shrine is another provocation of the Japanese cabinet members on a historical issue, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

His act once again exposed the dangerous intention of the Japanese side to prettify the militarism war criminals and challenge the results of the World War II as well as the post-war international order, Hua added.

Urging the Japanese side to seriously reflect on history and correct errors, Hua said that the Chinese and Asian people would never allow Japan to turn back the clock.

The visit came at a time when Japan's ties with China have turned sour over a territorial dispute regarding islands in the East China Sea.

The shrine and the Japanese government have been criticised by China, South Korea, and Taiwan as being revisionist and unapologetic about the events of World War II.