State Minister of Defense Oniki’s Visit to the Philippines (Summary)

(Press Release)

April 30, 2024
Japan Ministry of Defense

In Japanese

 State Minister of Defense Oniki visited the Philippines from April 28 to 30. The summary is as follows. Note that date and time below are Philippine Standard Time (PST).

  1. Visit to Naval base
    On April 28, State Minister of Defense Oniki visited the Philippine Naval Base Heracreo Alano. The State Minister was briefed on the current use of TC-90s, the training aircrafts which were granted by Japan to the Philippines.
    20240430_phl-j_1.jpg20240430_phl-j_2.jpg

  2. Wreath laying ceremony at the Hero’s Cemetery
    On April 29, State Minister of Defense Oniki visited the Philippine Armed Forces’ Hero’s Cemetery and led the wreath laying ceremony to express his condolences.

    20240430_phl-j_3.jpg20240430_phl-j_4.jpg

  3. Courtesy call on Secretary of National Defense Teodoro
    On April 29, State Minister of Defense Oniki paid a courtesy call on Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro at the Department of Defense. During the meeting, they confirmed that both countries would further deepen bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges, which have been more active than the previous year.

    20240430_phl-j_5.jpg20240430_phl-j_6.jpg

  4. Observation of “Exercise Balikatan”
    On April 29, State Minister of Defense Oniki visited Camp Aguinaldo to observe the U.S.-Philippines bilateral exercise “Exercise Balikatan”.

    20240430_phl-j_7.jpg20240430_phl-j_8.jpg

  5. The Acceptance, Turnover and Blessing Ceremony of a mobile air surveillance radar system
    On April 29, State Minister of Defense Oniki attended the Acceptance, Turnover and Blessing Ceremony of a mobile air surveillance radar system at Camp Aguinaldo. The State Minister expressed his anticipation of this radar system’s contribution to the peace and stability of the Philippines as well as Indo-Pacific region, and the resolution for further development of the bilateral relationship.

    20240430_phl-j_9.jpg20240430_phl-j_10.jpg

  6. Visit to 525th Engineer Combat Battalion
    On April 30, State Minister of Defense Oniki visited the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion of the Philippine Army. The State Minister was briefed of the unit’s activities, and received appreciation for Japan’s capacity building.

    20240430_phl-j_11.jpg20240430_phl-j_12.jpg
    State Minister of Defense Oniki’s Visit to the Philippines (Summary)(PDF)