TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers on human rights diplomacy urged the government Tuesday to ask the United States to immediately lift sanctions on International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and others.

The Nonpartisan Parliamentary Association for Reconsidering Human Rights Diplomacy handed Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara a statement including the request, its co-leader Gen Nakatani told reporters.

In response, Kihara, the top government spokesman, told them that Japan "has not changed its position of supporting the ICC in upholding the rule of law," but he did not say whether the government will ask Washington to lift the sanctions, according to Nakatani, a former defense minister.

At a press conference later in the day, Kihara said that he would convey the request to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the Foreign Ministry but expects Washington's stance toward the Hague-based judicial body to be "very firm," adding that further measures could be needed.

"The situation is challenging but we will continue to make approaches to the United States, while maintaining communication with relevant countries to strengthen the rule of law in the international community," Kihara added.

Akane is among ICC judges who have been targeted with sanctions freezing their assets in the United States, with Washington accusing the court of encroaching on state sovereignty.

The administration of President Donald Trump has strongly objected to ICC probes into alleged war crimes committed by U.S. military personnel and Israel.

Takaichi has said the U.S. sanctions are "incompatible" with Japan's commitment to the rule of law, following criticism of her initial remarks in which she described them as "very unfortunate."