Aso's Yasukuni Gift Causes China's Black Eye

Japan's Aso Taro did what he did last year at the Autumn Festival, and spent 50,000 yen and gave the same gift to the annual Spring Festival to Yasukuni Shrine. However, Beijing raised voice this time and asked Aso and Japan to deal with Yasukuni issue with a more cautious manner.

Aso is scheduled to visit Beijing next week.

The Yasukuni issue is again put on the table.

Japan obviously doesn't want to anger China right before Aso's trip, and Cabinet Secetary Kawamura brashed off and said Tokyo is not concerned about negative impact to the visit.

However, Yakukuni is to Sino-Japan Relations, just like Tibet to Sino-French one, is unavoidable and up front whenever the leaders from the two sides meet. Sarkozy rushed to repair ties with Beijing with a eye on potential economic benefits. Aso didn't have to make too much efforts, thanks in part to fromer PM Abe Shinzo's ice melting trip to Beijing. However, the issue is pretty much still up and front.

Will the trip be affected? I don't think so. However, a shadow has cerartainly casted when Aso meets Hu Jintao late this month.