Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says the Yasukuni Shrine is a delicate issue for China and that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe needs to pay attention to the feelings of neighboring countries.
"I think it's a sensitive issue for the Chinese. He should take into consideration the sensitivities of other countries," said Mahathir, who is seeking to become prime minister again as the opposition's candidate in next week's general election, in an interview on Monday.
"Whether you like it or not, Japan invaded China. In wars, you do a lot of bad things," said Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia with a strong hand from 1981 to 2003, at his office in the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.