Beijing, Jan 20 (IANS) China is firmly opposed to comments made by the US about the Diaoyu Islands, a foreign ministry official said here Sunday.

"We urge the US side to adopt a responsible attitude in regard to the issue of the Diaoyu Islands," said Qin Gang, a foreign ministry spokesperson, while addressing media relating to comments US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made Friday.

"It (the US) should be careful with its words, and act and maintain regional peace, stability and the general situation of China-US relations with practical actions and build credit with the Chinese people," China Daily quoted Qin as saying.

At a joint news conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, Clinton said the US did not not take a position on the ultimate sovereignty of the islands.

She, however, admitted that the Diaoyu Islands was under the administrative authority of Japan, saying the US opposed any unilateral actions to undermine Japanese authority over the islands.

"The comments by the US side are ignorant of facts and indiscriminate of rights and wrongs," Qin said.

The US cannot deny its historical responsibility on the issue of the islands, Qin said, referring to the fact that despite opposition from China, the Washington put the islands under the control of Japan after the World War II.

Qin said the Diayou Islands and its affiliated islets have been the inherent territories of China, which is an undeniable fact backed up by historical records and international laws.

Qin said the primary source of persistent tension over the islands lies with the Japanese government. He said Japan insisted on carrying out the wrongful action of purchasing some of the islands and continued to adopt escalating moves.

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China objects to US comments over Diaoyu Islands