After the war, "Kongō" and "Hiei" alternated annual cadet training cruises, with "Kongō" making the 1896 cruise to China and Southeast Asia from 11 April to 16 September. The "Kongō"'s stop in Manila during that cruise coincided with the start of an uprising against Spanish rule in the Philippines. The captain of the ship was approached by the leaders of the rebellion in an attempt to buy arms from Japan, but ultimately no deal was made.