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| John McCain (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons) |
By Zachary Keck
On Thursday, China slammed U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) over a statement he made in Tokyo on Wednesday, when the senior American lawmaker referred to the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands as “Japanese territory.” The senator later walked back the claim slightly.
“The Diaoyu Islands are inherent territory of China and anyone's attempt to deny the fact will end up in vain,” a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry told China Daily in a written statement.
“We urge the relevant U.S. lawmaker to stop making irresponsible remarks and avoid further complicating relevant issues and regional situation,” the statement added.
The Foreign Ministry was referring to comments McCain had made the day before to reporters following a meeting with Japan’s foreign minister.
According to Kyodo News, McCain told reporters in Tokyo, “The Congress in the United States resolution last year said the Senkaku is a Japanese territory. That is our position as a congress and as a government. I will continue to repeat that when I go to China."
This statement, his claims notwithstanding, put him at odds with U.S. policy, which maintains that Washington will not take sides on any sovereignty dispute so long as it’s resolved without the use of force or coercion.
Read the full story at The Diplomat