TOKYO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Japan on Wednesday said it would continue to urge Britain not to crash out of the European Union without a deal after hardliner Brexiteer Boris Johnson became the prime minister.
The remarks were made by Japan's top government spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga as Johnson, an ardent supporter and one of the original campaigners for Brexit, is set to take over from Theresa May as prime minister later Wednesday after winning the Conservative Party's leadership race a day earlier.
"We have been watching the situation surrounding Britain's exit from the EU with great interest, and have asked both Britain and the EU to ensure that the negative impact, including of a no-deal exit, on Japanese companies and the global economy is kept to a minimum," Suga told a press briefing.
"Our stance on the issue remains unchanged, and we will be closely watching the new government's actions," Suga also said.
By the Oct. 31 deadline, Johnson has pledged to take Britain out of the EU, even if this includes by way of a "no-deal Brexit."
