In his first meeting with his counterpart in Beijing in six months, Japan’s foreign minister urged China to play a “responsible role” in the crisis over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Japan joined Western countries in accepting sanctions against Russia, but China refrained from condemning the invasion initiated by Moscow.

Japanese Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, that Russia’s invasion was “a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and other international laws.” In a statement, the ministry urged China to “play a responsible role in maintaining international peace and security.”

According to the Japanese ministry, this was the first meeting between the countries’ heads of diplomacy since November and took place in the context of geopolitical tensions over the situation in Ukraine and growing Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Concerned about Beijing’s progress, US President Joe Biden is visiting South Korea and Japan this week, where a meeting of the Quadruple alliance is scheduled, which includes Australia and India, seen as a counterweight to China’s regional power.

“Japan and the United States are allies, China and Japan have a peace and friendship agreement,” the Chinese ministry said, adding that bilateral cooperation between Tokyo and Washington “should not provoke conflict, let alone cause harm between the parties.” China’s sovereignty, security and development interests”.

Japan is concerned about Beijing’s military expansion in the Pacific, but at the same time avoids open disputes with its main trading partner.