The strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan is evolving to even higher levels, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday, April 5, said. Zubiri issued this statement after he and 10 other Filipino senators held an audience with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio as part of the senators’ official parliamentary visit to Tokyo, Japan. He noted that the visit comes at an opportune time "as we adapt to the heightened global security situation, particularly the continuing maritime tensions, in our region." “On a daily basis, our Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) records cases of harassment from foreign actors, which is depriving our country of its sovereign right to use its exclusive economic zone. That is why the Philippines is thankful for Japan’s strong support of the 2016 Arbitration Ruling and for providing us modern ships and other equipment such as radars to monitor our skies and seas,’’ the Senate President said. Along with Zubiri, the delegation is composed of Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor ‘’JV’’ Ejercito; and Senators Juan Edgardo ‘’Sonny’’ M. Angara, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Manuel ‘’Lito’’ Lapid and Mark A. Villar. “With almost half of the Senate here with us, we hope to show to you the importance that we accord to our strategic partnership.” In February, Zubiri had also called on the Prime Minister, as part of the Philippine delegation headed by President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ R. Marcos Jr. Zubiri was happy to report to Kishida that right after that visit, the Senate has given its concurrence to the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership z(RCEP) agreement, which is expected to strengthen the trade and industry exchanges between the Philippines and Japan. It was also during that February visit that Zubiri raised the need to explore a Philippines-Japan Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). “This visit, particularly the briefing from the Ministry of Defense, has given us a clearer understanding of the current defense and security realities facing both our nations,” he said. “These meetings have also prompted us to act with greater urgency to support a possible Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement that will boost the inter-operability of our armed forces.” In light of Kishida’s plans to make an official visit to the Philippines, Zubiri also extended an invitation for him to address the Senate and the House of Representatives in a joint session.