Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to hold summits with the leaders of China and South Korea to explain his recent visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a shrine reviled around Asia because it venerates Japan’s worst war criminals alongside rank and file war dead.

“I would really like to explain the intent of my visits to the Yasukuni Shrine directly to them,” Abe said.  “We are not making any direct approach on this, but the door to dialogue is open.  I would like to hold Japan-China and Japan-South Korea summit meetings.”

It is highly unlikely that Abe will receive any invitations to go to Seoul or Beijing for explanatory summits.  South Korean President Park Geun Hye says the basis of bilateral relations with Japan is based on Tokyo’s contrition for its wartime past, during which the Korean peninsula suffered greatly.

“It is regrettable that the environment for bilateral cooperation has been repeatedly ruined by remarks and actions that contradict these statements,” President Park said.

China was even more skeptical.

“Prime Minister Abe has paid lip service to the development of Sino-Japanese relations, but in reality, his statements are hypocritical,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.  “It is he who has personally closed the door to dialogue with Chinese leaders.”