Press release

Foreign Secretary comments on Japanese Prime Minister Abe's statement

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond's reaction to today's statement from Japanese Prime Minister Abe

This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government

Speaking today, the Foreign Secretary said:

“I welcome Prime Minister Abe’s statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. I was pleased to read the reaffirmation of previous Japanese statements of apology and acknowledge Japan’s commitment, over 70 years, to peaceful development and to the rules-based international system. I welcome, as well, PM Abe’s acknowledgment of the suffering of Japanese POWs, including many thousands of Britons.

“I hope this statement will be received as a positive contribution to reconciliation between Japan and its neighbours in North East Asia”

Updates to this page

Published 14 August 2015