Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will seek closer ties with South Korea at a summit Tuesday, as Tokyo moves to contain a deepening diplomatic and trade dispute with China and counter Beijing’s efforts to drive a wedge between key U.S. allies.

Takaichi will meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in her home prefecture of Nara in their second talk in less than three months. Their first in-person meeting took place in South Korea in late October on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, where the two leaders pledged to pursue a stable, forward-looking relationship.

Lee’s national security adviser has hinted that the meeting will touch on frictions between China and Japan. Still, Lee is unlikely to make any public remarks targeting Beijing, as he has sought to avoid taking sides in the escalating tensions between his country’s two powerful neighbors.

Even without explicit references, China is expected to loom large over the discussions. Japan-China relations have deteriorated sharply since Takaichi’s first meeting with President Xi Jinping at the APEC gathering. Her remarks in early November on Taiwan infuriated China, which responded with tougher export controls on Japan and a travel advisory.

Demonstrating rapport with South Korea would bolster Japan’s effort to line up support from allies as it pushes back against China’s global campaign to isolate Tokyo. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has been holding talks with other advanced economies on securing critical minerals, amid fears that China may leverage its grip on rare earths to hit Japan’s economy. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is also set to hold talks with his U.S. counterpart on Thursday.

Lee, meanwhile, is walking a diplomatic tightrope. Just last week, Lee was courted by Xi in Beijing, where the two posed for selfies. Xi referenced the two countries’ shared history of fighting Japanese militarism.

In an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK aired Monday, Lee made it clear that he has no intention to get involved in the dispute, saying that he’s waiting for the two countries to resolve the issue through dialogue.

“It is evident that Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a very negative view of Japan’s position on the Taiwan issue,” Lee said. “But for me, I believe this is a matter between China and Japan, and not one in which we should be deeply involved or intervene.”

Lee has signaled a more balanced approach to foreign policy than his predecessor, who prioritized closer ties with the U.S. Still, South Korea’s alliance with the U.S. limits any dramatic shift toward China.

China’s outreach to South Korea stands in contrast to its increasingly confrontational stance toward Japan. Beijing has imposed new export restrictions on dual-use goods that could enhance Japan’s military capabilities and launched an anti-dumping probe into a key chipmaking material. Japan has also lodged a protest over China’s deployment of a mobile drilling vessel in the East China Sea.

Takaichi and Lee are expected to speak to reporters Tuesday afternoon before visiting a historic temple the following day. Takaichi will host Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Japan from Thursday through Saturday.

Takaichi has refused to walk back remarks made in early November suggesting Japan could deploy its military if China attempted to seize Taiwan, despite repeated demands from Beijing. While the economic and diplomatic fallout continues to mount, it has yet to erode her domestic popularity. Speculation has grown that Takaichi may call a snap election in February to strengthen her coalition’s grip on power.

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