Japanese PM vows to ‘strengthen rules-based order’ on war defeat anniversary

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a speech during a memorial service for the war dead at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo (Kyodo News via AP/PA)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has vowed to step up his country’s effort to defend a rules-based international order in a peace pledge made on Thursday on the 79th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in the Second World War.

Mr Kishida said the country “will never again repeat the tragedy of war” at a solemn ceremony at the Budokan hall in Tokyo.