Standoff over Diaoyu Islands

US' ambiguous stance on Sino-Japanese dispute is likely to continue despite its recent remarks and moves against China

Tensions between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands dispute have escalated after the recent incidents involving the two countries' vessels and planes.

As the sower of discord over the Diaoyu Islands, the United States, however, has failed to fulfill its due responsibility to defuse the tensions. Instead of taking an impartial stance, the US Senate and House of Representatives approved an amendment to the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Barack Obama, which says "the unilateral actions of a third party will not affect US acknowledgement of the administration of Japan over the Senkaku Islands". Senkaku is the Japanese term for China's Diaoyu Islands.