Sanctions are not the best way to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, according to Beijing.<br /><br /> The comments from China’s Foreign Ministry reflect the country’s close ties with Russia. Both are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and see eye-to-eye on many global diplomatic issues.<br /><br /> Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters: “China has consistently opposed the easy use of sanctions in international relations, or using sanctions as a threat.”<br /><br /> But Japan’s prime minister has assured Barack Obama of his support over the Ukraine crisis. <br /><br /> Shinzo Abe reportedly talked on the telephone for 40 minutes with the US President who will visit Tokyo next month.<br /><br /> The White House said the two leaders agreed that Russia’s actions were a “threat to international peace and security.”
