TOKYO, Apr 23 (Reuters) - Tensions flared between Japan and its Asian neighbors after a group of Japanese lawmakers visited a shrine seen by China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, and Chinese patrol vessels played cat-and-mouse with a flotilla of Japanese nationalists near disputed islands in the East China Sea.

　　路透社东京4月23日 - 日本与中国及韩国之间的紧张关系加剧，之前日本国会议员集体参拜靖国神社，而中国海监船在钓鱼岛海域驱离日本右翼船只。

　　Beijing protested over the voyage by 10 boats carrying about 80 Japanese activists into waters near the islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.

　　中国政府抗议大约80名日本右翼活动人士乘船进入钓鱼岛(日本称尖阁列岛)海域。

　　"Regarding the Japanese right-wing activists' illegal entry into the waters of the Diaoyu islands that is causing trouble, the Chinese foreign ministry has lodged stern representations with Japan, and has strongly protested," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news conference.

　　中国外交部发言人华春莹在记者会上表示，“对于日本右翼分子非法进入钓鱼岛海域寻衅滋事，中国外交部已经向日本方面提出了严正交涉和强烈抗议。”

　　China chastised Japan for Tuesday's visits by at least 168 lawmakers to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine. The pilgrimage came after Abe made an offering and Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and two other ministers visited Yasukuni over the weekend.

　　中国还谴责至少168名日本国会议员周二集体参拜靖国神社的活动。此前日本首相安倍晋三向靖国神社供奉祭品，而副首相麻生太郎和两名大臣周末参拜了靖国神社。

　　"Regardless of what method or what identity these Japanese leaders take in visiting Yasukuni Shrine, fundamentally it is intentionally denying Japan's militaristic invasionist history," Hua said.

　　华春莹指出，“不管日本领导人以何种形式和身份参拜靖国神社，其本质都是企图否认那段日本军国主义侵略历史。”

　　"We urge Japan to be responsible to history, to be responsible to the people and take a responsible attitude to the future and take realistic actions to win the trust of the international community."

　　“我们敦促日方本着对历史负责，对人民负责，对未来负责的态度，以实际行动取信于国际社会。”

　　Japan also protested at what it called an intrusion by eight Chinese patrol vessels into its waters near the islands.

　　日本对八艘中国海监执法船进入钓鱼岛海域提出抗议，称其是入侵行为。

　　But Tokyo appeared keen to avoid a clash between the nationalists' flotilla and the Chinese ships. Japan's Coast Guard, which had 13 vessels shadowing the boats, urged them to leave and escorted them away.

　　不过，日本看似希望避免搭载右翼人士的日方船只与中国海监船发生冲突，13艘随行的日本海上保安厅舰艇敦促并护送这些日方船只离开。

　　South Korea has canceled a trip to Japan by its foreign minister following the weekend shrine visits. On Tuesday, a South Korean foreign ministry spokesman in Seoul said matters of history should be kept separate from efforts to cooperate over North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

　　韩国外交部长取消了访日计划，抗议日本内阁成员周末参拜靖国神社。周二，韩国外交部发言人称，有关朝鲜核问题的两国合作应和历史问题分开考虑。

　　Conservatives in Japan argue they should be able to pay their respects to the nation's war dead in their own way.

　　日本保守派表示，他们应该能够以自己的方式缅怀战争中死去的日本人。