Japan Air Chief calls on Minister for Defence

Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), General (GEN) Haruhiko Kataoka (left), calling on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (right) at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), General (GEN) Haruhiko Kataoka, called on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence this afternoon. GEN Kataoka, who is in Singapore for his introductory visit from 27 to 29 Jan 2013, also called on Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong and Chief of Air Force Major-General Ng Chee Meng earlier today. As part of his programme, GEN Kataoka also visited 149 Squadron at Paya Lebar Air Base this morning.

GEN Kataoka's visit underscores the warm and friendly defence relations between Singapore and Japan. The two militaries conduct regular exchanges of visits, policy dialogues, military staff talks and cross-attendance of courses and seminars. Both defence establishments also cooperate closely under the auspices of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus and co-chair the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Military Medicine.

GEN Kataoka (fifth from left) inspecting a Guard of Honour at MINDEF.

GEN Kataoka viewing a Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15 SG fighter aircraft at Paya Lebar Air Base.