Harry Potter wizard Lord Voldemort invoked again as Japan hits back at China

Last Updated: Monday, January 6, 2014, 16:56

The diplomatic bickering between Japan and China descended into name-calling in the British press Monday, with ambassadorial claim and counter-claim invoking the fictional evil wizard of the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort.

China envoy compares Japanese militarism to Voldemort

Last Updated: Thursday, January 2, 2014, 16:58

China`s ambassador to Britain has invoked Lord Voldemort, the villain of JK Rowling`s Harry Potter series, in a diplomatic standoff between Beijing and Tokyo over the Japanese prime minister`s visit to a controversial war shrine.

China slams Japanese minister for shrine visit

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 1, 2014, 19:26

The Chinese foreign ministry Wednesday strongly criticised Japanese Internal Affairs Minister Yoshitaka Shindo for his Yasukuni Shrine visit.

Japanese minister visits war-linked Yasukuni Shrine

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 1, 2014, 13:17

Japanese Internal Affairs Minister Yoshitaka Shindo Wednesday visited the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine amid strong opposition against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s visit there Dec 26, a media report said.

Japan PM `shuts door` on talks with war shrine visit: China

Last Updated: Monday, December 30, 2013, 15:35

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a daily news briefing that "Abe has himself shut the door on talks with Chinese leaders".

Japanese minister visits controversial war shrine

Last Updated: Friday, October 18, 2013, 17:18

A cabinet minister was among scores of Japanese parliamentarians who paid tribute at a controversial war shrine in Tokyo on Friday, in a move likely to anger China and South Korea.

China summons Japanese ambassador over shrine visit

Last Updated: Thursday, August 15, 2013, 15:17

China summoned Japan`s ambassador on Thursday to lodge a strong complaint after two Japanese cabinet ministers publicly paid their respects at a controversial Tokyo shrine for war dead, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Japan visits to war shrine likely to anger Asian neighbours

Last Updated: Thursday, August 15, 2013, 11:58

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to a controversial shrine for war dead on Thursday - the anniversary of Japan`s defeat in World War Two.

South Korea slams Japanese war shrine visits

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 13:35

South Korea on Tuesday condemned a visit by Japanese lawmakers to a controversial war shrine, saying Tokyo should "think hard" about its impact on countries that suffered wartime occupation.

Japan lawmakers in mass visit to controverisal war shrine

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 09:46

The annual trip, which usually draws dozens of lawmakers to the Yasukuni shrine, has riled neighbours China and South Korea, which lodged protests after several Japanese cabinet members visited at the weekend.

Japanese ministers` war shrine visit infuriates South Korea

Last Updated: Monday, April 22, 2013, 09:17

Japan`s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Keiji Furuya, the chief of the National Public Safety Commission, separately visited the Yasukuni shrine Sunday.

Japan PM visits shrine in apparent rightist appeal

Last Updated: Monday, January 14, 2013, 00:42

Japan`s prime minister has visited Tokyo`s main Shinto shrine, which has strong imperial connections, in an apparent attempt to appeal to his right-wing supporters.