Hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday said he intends to release a new statement on Japan’s attitude to World War II, just a day after unveiling plans to revamp the US-imposed pacifist constitution.

The nationalist premier, who swept to power on promises of a more robust diplomacy that will stand up to China, has long been known to favour the toning down of a 1995 apology for wartime aggression directed at Asian neighbours.

Beijing and Seoul, amongst others, have repeatedly called for Tokyo to face up to its bellicose past.

Abe yesterday revealed only that he will revisit the issue at some point in the future, and gave no insight into any new declaration.

The landmark 1995 pronouncement by then-prime minister Tomiichi Murayama was seen as a key step in what many Asian nations say was Japan finally starting to come to terms with its brutal history. The statement said Japan "through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations", adding the premier felt "deep remorse" and offered a "heartfelt apology".