(Press Release)
July 31, 2026
Japan Ministry of Defense
From July 26 to 29, 2026, Parliamentary Vice Minister Shinji Yoshida visited the Republic of Palau.
The summary of his visit is as follows:
1. Meetings with Palau officials
（１） On 27 July, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Yoshida paid a courtesy call on Minister of Justice Olegeriil of the Republic of Palau. During the meeting, Parliamentary Vice Minister Yoshida welcomed the steady progress in defense cooperation between Japan and Palau, including high-level exchanges, and reaffirmed that the Republic of Palau is an important partner that shares fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. They exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including the regional security environment and future defense cooperation between Japan and Palau, and concurred on further deepening and advancing the relationship between Japan and Palau.
（２）On the same day, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Yoshida visited the Former Navy Cemetery and laid a wreath.
（３）On the same day, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Yoshida visited the Bureau of Maritime Security and Fish & Wildlife Protection and exchanged views on Palau’s efforts to enhance maritime security.
２．Visit to Peleliu Island
On 28 July, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Yoshida visited Peleliu Island, where he visited facilities that had been refurbished as part of the Japan-U.S. bilateral exercise conducted in the previous fiscal year. He also received a briefing from U.S. military personnel engaged in on-site operations regarding their activities. He also laid a wreath at the Monument of the War Dead in the Western Pacific and other memorial sites.
Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Yoshida’s visit to the Republic of Palau (PDF)