The U.S. is calling for a peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters Wednesday that Washington can't take sides in the dispute, after Japan arrested a group of pro-China activists for landing on the islands.

Nuland said she hopes both sides will be able to resolve the issue through peaceful means, noting any provocations won't be helpful in that regard.

She added that she had nothing further to say beyond the fact that the U.S. wants to see Japan and China work it out together. The spokeswoman said that the dispute needs to be resolved consensually, not through provocative acts.