U.S. says position unchanged on Diaoyu Islands

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- U.S. State Department on Tuesday said its position on the Diaoyu Islands has not changed, and it does not take sides on the ultimate question of sovereignty of these islands.

Answering a question regarding a recent Japanese press report, State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said the U.S. position on Diaoyu Islands is "long standing, and has not changed."

According to a Kyodo News report, during a meeting last week in Washington with Japan's New Komeito Party Chief Natsuo Yamaguchi, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns "reaffirmed U.S. backing for Japan in its dispute with China" over the Diaoyu Islands. The report quoted a lawmaker in Yamaguchi's delegation as its source.

"We don't take position on the ultimate question of sovereignty," said Psaki about the Kyodo report. "I'm certain that is the message that is conveyed privately as well as publicly, as I'm doing now."

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