Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing Thursday that Asian people are against Japanese leader's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine.

The hands of war criminals enshrined at the Yasukuni were tainted with blood of the victims in many Asian countries, said Qin.

Qin made the comments on a report saying Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is going to visit the controversial shrine within this year and interpreting China's opposition is out of the willingness to see a more politically influential Japan.

Qin said the Asian people oppose such visits because the war criminals are commemorated there.

Source: Xinhua