Koizumi Blames China, South Korea for Poor Relations

小泉指责中韩应对中日和韩日关系差负责

Japan's outgoing prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, says China and South Korea are to blame for their strained diplomatic relations with Tokyo.

Mr. Koizumi told his last news conference today (Monday) that China and South Korea were wrong to have refused summits with him because of his annual pilgrimages to the Yasukuni shrine. The shrine honors Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals.

The Seoul and Beijing governments have objected to the visits, which they say glorify Japan's wartime offenses against their countries.

The Japanese prime minister said the governments will realize in hindsight that they were wrong.

Mr. Koizumi is to be replaced by fellow conservative Shinzo Abe when his five-year term ends Tuesday.

日本即将卸任的首相小泉纯一郎说，中国和韩国应该为它们各自与东京的紧张关系负责。

小泉纯一郎在星期一他最后一次新闻发布会上表示，中国和韩国因他每年参拜靖国神社而拒绝与他举行高峰会谈的做法是错误的。靖国神社供奉着日本战争死难者，其中包括战犯。

首尔和北京政府一直反对小泉纯一郎对靖国神社的参拜，认为小泉纯一郎的参拜美化了日本对中、韩两国所犯下的战争罪行。

这位日本首相说，中、韩两国政府日后会意识到它们的做法是错误的。

小泉的5年任期到星期二结束，他的保守派同僚安倍晋三将接替他的职务。