BEIJING - China has rebuked Japan over a visit by the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the war crime-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

According to the Kyodo news agency, Akie Abe said on her Facebook account on Thursday that she had visited the shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, including 14 Class-A criminals of World War II.

"We again urge the Japanese side to face up to history and reflect on its aggressive past," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei at a regular news briefing on Friday.

Hong said Japan "should deal with history and gain trust from the international community and its Asian neighbors with real actions."