Kishida vows to push rules-based order as Japan's defense chief visits Yasukuni 79 years after WWII

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed to step up his country’s effort to defend a rules-based international order in a peace pledge made Thursday on the 79th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II.

“We will never again repeat the tragedy of war” and will stick to the country’s postwar pacifist resolve, he said at a solemn ceremony at the Budokan hall.

“In the world where tragic battles have persisted, Japan will continue its effort to maintain and strengthen the rules-based, free and open international order” and endeavor to resolve difficult global issues, Kishida said.

Kishida noted that more than 3 million Japanese were killed in the war. He also talked about the destruction in bloody ground battles on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, fire-bombings across Japan, and the atomic attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. But he did not mention or apologize for Japanese aggression across Asia or the millions of lives lost there.

The omission follows a precedent set by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in his speech in 2013, a move critics call a whitewashing of Japan’s wartime atrocities.

Earlier Thursday, three of Kishida's ministers, including Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, prayed at the Yasukuni Shrine — seen by Asian neighbors as a symbol of militarism.

The controversial shrine honors convicted war criminals among about 2.5 million war dead. Victims of Japanese aggression, especially China and the Koreas, see visits to the shrine as a lack of remorse, and visits by defense officials are considered especially controversial.

Kihara is the first serving defense chief to pray at the shrine on the anniversary since then-Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi’s 2021 visit.

“I offered my sincere condolences for those who sacrificed their precious lives in the war and expressed my respect," Kihara told reporters, adding that he paid tribute as a private individual. Asked about a possible impact on the relationship with Seoul, he said he would continue his effort to strengthen ties with South Korea.

Kishida abstained from praying at the Yasukuni Shrine just a block away and sent a religious ornament instead.

Asian neighbors criticized the ministers' visit to Yasukuni on Thursday.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, in a written statement, called Yasukuni visits by Japanese political leaders an “erroneous attitude towards historical issues.”

“Facing up to and deeply reflecting on the history of aggression is an essential prerequisite for Japan to establish and develop friendship and cooperation with its Asian neighbors after World War II,” Lin said, urging Japan to also "make a clean break with militarism, stick to the path of peaceful development, and take concrete actions to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.”

In Seoul, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry in a statement expressed “deep disappointment and regret” over the ministers' visits to the shrine and said, "Our government calls for the responsible leaders in Japan to squarely face history and demonstrate through actions a humble reflection and genuine remorse for the past and we emphasize again that this would be an important foundation for the development of future-oriented Korea-Japan relations.”

Emperor Naruhito, who also attended the ceremony, repeated his “deep remorse” over Japan’s actions during the war that was fought in the name of the wartime emperor Hirohito, his grandfather.

Kishida accelerated Japan’s military buildup and spending as the country further deepens military cooperation with the United States and their Indo-Pacific partners in the face of growing threats from China and North Korea.

Kishida, who took office in 2021, announced Wednesday that he plans to step down after his governing party leadership vote in September.

Associated Press video journalist Mayuko Ono and writers Ken Moritsugu in Beijing and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed.

Police officers walk around the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

People wait in queue before reaching to the main hall to pray at Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

A man salutes at the main hall of the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

People walk through a gate to the main hall of the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

A man clad in an outdated military uniform, center, raises a Japanese flag as another prays at the main hall of the Yasukuni Shrine, in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

A man prays near the main hall at Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

People observe a minute of silence at noon, while waiting in queue before reaching to the main hall to pray at Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

A man bows in front of the main hall of the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, center, speaks to media members after offering prayer for the war dead at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, center right, and Empress Masako, center left, observe a moment of silence during a memorial service for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, right, and Empress Masako, left, observe a moment of silence during a memorial service for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a speech during a memorial service for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japanese Emperor Naruhito, second right, and Empress Masako, right, attend the memorial ceremony for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, walks past Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, after his speech during a memorial service for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visit to offer flowers at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

People arrive for the memorial ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of Japan's defeat in the World War II, at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, left, and Empress Masako, left, attend a memorial service for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a speech during a memorial service for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japanese lawmakers leave after their prayer to the war dead the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara leaves after offering prayer for the war dead at Yasukuni Shrine, as Japan marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP

Japanese Emperor Naruhito, left, and Empress Masako, right, attend the memorial ceremony for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, rear right, and Empress Masako, rear left, observe a moment of silence during a memorial service for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery as the country marks the 79th anniversary of its defeat in the World War II, in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Anti-war protesters clashed with police on Wednesday outside a military arms convention in the Australian city of Melbourne.

Protesters hurled bottles, rocks and horse manure, a police statement said. They also sprayed officers with liquid irritants, some of which were identified as acid, police said.

Police retaliated with pepper spray, flash distraction devices and rubber bullets, which are designed to inflict pain without penetrating the skin.

At least 24 officers required medical treatment. Police arrested 39 protesters for offenses such as assault, arson and blocking roadways.

“Victoria Police is appalled at the behavior of some of the protesters,” the statement said, referring to the Victoria state force.

Around 1,800 police officers have been deployed to a Melbourne convention center where the Land Forces International Land Defense Exposition is taking place through Friday.

Some of the convention attendees also were assaulted, police said.

Protesters also threw rocks, horse manure and tomatoes at police horses and officers with shields and wearing riot gear. A police officer on horseback struck a protester with a riding crop and a line of police were seen forcing protesters away from the convention center.

Police said some protesters targeted the horses, but no animal sustained serious injury.

Roads have been closed and traffic was disrupted by the protests, organized by Students for Palestine and Disrupt Wars groups. The organizers hoped up to 25,000 protesters would turn out.

Police estimated 1,200 protesters had surrounded the convention center by noon.

Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said it was the state police force's biggest planned deployment since Melbourne hosted the World Economic Forum in 2000 and backed his officers' use of force. He said the protesters had planned for conflict.

"They come her to protest ... anti-war so presumably anti-violence," Patton told reporters. “The only way I can describe them is a bunch of hypocrites.”

Students for Palestine national co-convenor Jasmine Duff blamed police for the protest violence.

“They used serious weapons on peace activists that should be banned for use on demonstrators, including pepper spray, which is classified as a chemical weapon,” Duff said in a statement.

“They hit us with batons, including hitting one man so hard he had to go to hospital and they shot us with rubber bullets,” she added.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on protesters to show respect for police.

“People have a right to protest peacefully, but you don’t say you’re opposed to defense equipment by throwing things at police,” Albanese told Seven Network television. “They’ve got a job to do and our police officers should be respected at all times."

The organizer of the biennial convention, AMDA Foundation, said it would not comment on protester activity.

The gathering brings together arms industry figures from Australia, the United States, Asia and Europe. In 2022, the convention was held in the city of Brisbane where protests were more subdued.

Victoria Police man barricades outside a military arms convention in downtown Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)

Victoria Police clash with anti-war protesters outside a military arms convention in downtown Melbourne, Australia,Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)

Victoria Police clash with anti-war protesters outside a military arms convention in downtown Melbourne, Australia,Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Joel Carret/AAP Image via AP)