The commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear, says the U.S. government will not intervene in territorial disputes among countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Associated Press reported the admiral told reporters during his visit to Thailand that the U.S. will remain neutral in a territorial dispute between China and Japan over a group of islands in the East China Sea. He also said that the U.S. will not take sides with any of countries claiming sovereignty to maritime regions in the South China Sea.

Locklear proposed that China and Japan peacefully settle their dispute through an international organization.