These strains in the US-Japan relationship – surely the foundation stone of Asian stability – first became noticeable in December, when Abe visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which houses the “souls” of (among others) Class A war criminals from the Pacific War. The US has always criticized Japanese officials’ visits to the shrine, but through diplomatic channels.
美日关系——毫无疑问，这一关系是亚洲稳定的基石——的这些掣肘首次进入公众视线是去年12月，当时安倍晋三访问了供奉太平洋战争甲级战犯（及其他）“灵位”的东京靖国神社。美国一直对日本官员拜访靖国神社持批评态度，但都是通过外交渠道表达的。而这一回美国公开表示了不满之情。