JAKARTA, Indonesia (NEWSnet/AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized the United States for blocking earlier United Nations resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza while on a visit to in Indonesia.

The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers reiterated their countries’ calls for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas.

“In the eyes of the United States, international law seems to be a tool that can be used whenever it finds useful and discarded if it does not want to use it," Wang said.

The meeting took place on the second day of a six-day tour during which Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also visit Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.

Indonesia has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians, and does not recognize Israel.

The two ministers also discussed their countries’ economic relationship and the South China Sea. China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner.

The U.S., together with Egypt and Qatar, brokered a brief cease-fire earlier in the war that included some swaps of hostages taken by Hamas and other militant groups in return for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and has sought to bring about a new deal.

The U.S. vetoed a number of proposed U.N. Security Council cease-fire resolutions, before allowing a resolution to a pass with an abstention in late March.

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