EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has criticized the visit on Thursday by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo that honours war dead including convicted war criminals. "This action is not conducive to lowering tensions in the region or to improving relations with Japan's neighbours, especially China and Republic of Korea," said Ashton's spokesman Michael Mann, in a statement Thursday night. "All countries in the region have reaffirmed their commitment to peace and stability in recent months. The EU has consistently emphasised the need to build on this by handling disputes with careful diplomacy and by refraining from actions which can raise tensions," it noted. The EU urged the countries involved to build positive and constructive ties with their neighbours that will bolster confidence, defuse tensions and assure the long term stability of the region. Neighbouring countries of Japan view the Yasukuni shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarism during World War II.