Shrine offering and visit stir protests

Beijing is protesting two days of senior Japanese politicians' actions related to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals from World War II.

For Japan's victimized Asian neighbors, the shrine remains tainted by its association with the war, although it ended more than 70 years ago.

On Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered a "masakaki" ceremonial tree to the shrine in Tokyo. Then, on Friday, about 90 Japanese lawmakers, including Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Takaichi Sanae, visited the shrine.