The U.S. government apparently sought Thursday to stay away from the fallout from Sen. John McCain's controversial remarks over territorial disputes between China and Japan.

"I don't have anything specific on his remarks other than to just reiterate that our policy on the Senkaku Islands is long-standing and has not changed," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a press briefing. "The United States does not take a position on the underlying question of the ultimate sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands."

Psaki was responding to questions about McCain's view on the sovereignty over the chain of islands, called "Diaoyu" in China, in the East China Sea.

On his trip to Japan, the Republican senator from Arizona described the islands as "Japanese territory." They are effectively controlled by Tokyo but also claimed by Beijing.

"The fact is the Chinese are violating fundamental rights that Japan has to the Senkakus. I think it would be a mistake to treat it any other way," he said in a press conference. "To assume anything but the fact that the Senkakus are Japanese territory, I think, would be contradiction to the facts."

The former U.S. presidential candidate's remarks drew criticism from China.

In a press release, China's foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, called for "relevant U.S. lawmakers" to avoid making regional situations more complicated.

It is futile for anyone to deny the fact that the Diaoyu Islands are Chinese territory, added Hong. (Yonhap News)