unsurprisingly, America is siding with its longtime ally. (Via The White House)

Beginning his week-long tour of Asia in Japan, President Barack Obama wrote in a statement:

"The policy of the United States is clear — the Senkaku Islands are administered by

Japan. ... And we oppose any unilateral attempts to undermine Japan's administration of these

islands." (Via The White House / Pete Souza)

This comment came Wednesday in response to questions from the Japanese newspaper, Yomiuri

Shimbun. Obama specifically said the islands fall within a U.S.-Japan treaty signed after

World War II.

And that "attempts to undermine" Japan statement is no doubt a reference to China's claim to

the islands. They're known in Japan as the Senkaku islands — in China as the Diaoyu.

(Via NTDTV)

Although the disagreement over who owns them has gone on for years, tensions have just

recently reached a high point. Citizens of both nations have protested over the issue.

(Via CNN, RT)

And, predictably, China's government is none too pleased with Obama's decision to throw

his weight behind Japan.

A commentary on the state-run Xinhua news agency said the president's statement "smacks

of a carefully calculated scheme to cage the rapidly developing Asian giant" — meaning

China.

Japan's not the only nation locked in a territory dispute with China. Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan

and the Philippines all say China has just recently begun exerting control over islands

that belong to them. Basically, the South China Sea is a mess.