Mizuho Fukushima, leader of Japan's opposition Social Democratic Party, on Wednesday criticized Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine and said China's postponing a meeting by foreign ministers understandable.

Prime Minister Koizumi has "damaged the past, current and future relations between Japan and other Asian nations," she said, referring to Koizumi's pilgrimage on Monday to the shrine which honors war criminals.

She said it was "reasonable" for China to condemn Koizumi's repeated visits and remain concerned about how Japan views the aggressive war 60 years ago.

"It is understandable that China has canceled the meeting in protest. On the contrary, it is inapprehensible why the premier can not have a sympathy with the feelings of the people in other Asian countries," she said.

China's Foreign Ministry said that it was "inconvenient for China to receive" Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura in the "current gloomy situation." The visit was reportedly scheduled for next week.

Source: Xinhua