Defense Minister Kihara Minoru visited the Philippines on July 8. Events are as follows. Note that date and time is PST.
1. Flower Offering at Rizal Park
Defense Minister offered flowers at Rizal Park, where a statue of Jose Rizal, a national hero who led the Philippines independence movement, is located.
2. Courtesy call on H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines
Defense Minister Kihara and Foreign Minister Kamikawa paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines at the Malacanang Palace. Defense Minister Kihara highlighted recent significant progress in defense cooperation and exchanges and conveyed his willingness to continue to enhance Japan-Philippines bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges for realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Paciifc.”
3. Signing of Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement
On July 8, Defense Minister Kihara and Foreign Minister Kamikawa attended the signing ceremony of the Agreement between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines concerning the facilitation of reciprocal access and cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Armed Forces of the Phlippines (“Japan-Philippines RAA”). This agreement is expected to further promote security and defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.
4. Japan-Philippines Defense Ministers` Meeting
Defense Minister Kihara held the second meeting with the PhilippinesSecretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. this year following the meeting in May. At the meeting, Defense Minister Kihara welcomed that the RAA had been signed between the Philippines and Japan in the presence of H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. which symbolizes the recent deepening of defense cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.
The two Ministers also shared the view to maintain and strengthen “Free and Open Indo Pacific (FOIP)” based on the rule of law, and to further promote bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges, including defense equipment and technology cooperation.
5. Japan-Philippines Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”)
Defense Minister Kihara and Foreign Minister Kamikawa held the 2nd Japan-Philippines Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2) with Defense Secretary Teodoro and Foreign Secretary Manalo. The four ministers confirmed to further deepen bilateral relationship toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” as two maritime nations that share fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law.
Defense Minister Kihara’s visit to the Republic of the Philippines (PDF)