TOKYO, Aug 15: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid his respects at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine for war dead on Tuesday, the anniversary of his country’s World War Two surrender, defying warnings from China and South Korea not to go.

The parting shot by the outgoing Japanese leader prompted protests from Beijing and Seoul. Mr Koizumi is set to step down next month, and China in particular appears to be counting on his heir apparent, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, to help repair ties. On Tuesday, Mr Abe, 51, called for dialogue, but declined to say whether he would go there if he became premier.—Reuters