Xinhua used the column called “Chen Fu Discusses the Military” to published a statement about the possible role of the U.S. in the Diaoyu Islands dispute. The statement said, “U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta’s visit to China happens to be at a time when the East China Sea dispute over the Diaoyu Islands is growing more intense. Many people believe that it is inevitable for Panetta to discuss the Diaoyu Islands issue during his visit to Japan and China. Some people even expect the U.S. to act as a ‘mediator’ during the dispute.”
The Xinhua statement dismissed such reports, saying that “Panetta’s China visit was scheduled previously. It’s just a response to Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie’s U.S. visit.”
The statement explained further that “the United States is part of the cause of the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands. On the one hand, the U.S. states that it does not maintain any position on the Diaoyu Islands dispute. On the other hand, the U.S. has repeatedly stressed that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty applies to the Diaoyu Islands, which is an ambiguous but tendentious attitude. Therefore, the United States does not have the qualifications to act as a ‘mediator.’ It is also not possible for U.S. to act as a truly neutral ‘mediator.’ At the same time, China and Japan can resolve the issue by themselves. There is no need for a third party to act as a ‘mediator.’”
Source: Xinhua, September 20, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2012-09/20/c_123737948.htm