Japan has urged China to prevent "balloon-shaped flying objects" from making unauthorized entries into Japan's territory.

Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and China's top foreign policy official Wang Yi met for talks in the German city of Munich on Saturday.

Hayashi said a flying object's entry into another country's airspace, without permission, amounts to an intrusion.

Flying objects have been spotted in Japan's airspace in recent years, and defense ministry officials strongly suspect that they were Chinese spy balloons.

Hayashi also conveyed his concerns about the situation in the East China Sea. He mentioned the Senkaku Islands.

Japan controls the islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.

Hayashi expressed concerns about the military activities that Beijing has been ramping up near Japan, in coordination with Russia.

He stressed that it is important to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Referring to the situation in Ukraine, Hayashi urged China to be a responsible major power and play a positive role.

The two diplomats agreed to work together to build a constructive and stable bilateral relationship. They exchanged views on economic cooperation.

Both sides confirmed that they will maintain communication at all levels, and they said that the Japan-China Security Dialogue will be held next week for the first time in four years.

They also agreed to continue to make arrangements for Hayashi to visit China.