Japan and China have held their first security dialogue in about four years.

Senior foreign affairs and defense officials from the two countries met Wednesday in Tokyo.

Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamada Shigeo said the Japan-China relationship faces challenges and concerns.

He cited the situation in the East China Sea, including the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. Yamada also mentioned China's accelerating military activities around Japan in coordination with Russia. He noted as well that Japan strongly suspects balloons used by China for spying have entered Japan's air space.

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

Yamada went on to stress the importance of continuing bilateral dialogue. He said there is a common understanding between the two countries' leaders of the need to build constructive and stable bilateral relations.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong responded that the countries' leaders recognize that they should not be a threat to each other.

Sun touched on Japanese security documents adopted last year. He said China has a grave concern about what he called the negative moves Japan has been making over the issue of Taiwan. He added that he would like to hear a responsible explanation from Japan.

The two sides are thought to have confirmed the need for close communication on building constructive and stable bilateral ties.