Chinese official urges caution to US on Diaoyu Islands issue

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Friday urged the US to correctly understand the Diaoyu Islands issue and be cautious with words and deeds.

Yang stressed at a meeting with visiting US senators John McCain and Sheldon Whitehouse that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets, according to a Foreign Ministry press release.

McCain said that the United States does not take a position on the sovereignty of the islands, said the press release.

According to a Kyodo report, McCain on Wednesday described the islands as "Japanese territory" and said China is violating Japan's fundamental right to the islands at a news conference in Tokyo.

Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman Hong Lei on Thursday urged "relevant US lawmakers" to stop making irresponsible remarks on the islands, saying that it is futile for anyone to deny the fact that the islands are Chinese territory.