Tokyo city officials surveyed five tiny uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, which are controlled by Japan, but also claimed by China and Taiwan. Tokyo plans to buy the islands, a sale China calls 'invalid.'<\/p>\n
Tokyo city officials planning to buy tiny islands at the center of a longtime territorial dispute with China surveyed the area Sunday on a visit meant to send a message of ownership. <\/p>\n
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The boat, carrying 25 experts and officials as well as journalists from news organizations including The Associated Press, circled the five uninhabited islands in the East China Sea which are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. <\/p>\n
China responded quickly to the survey, saying any unilateral action by Japan on the islands is \"illegal\" and \"invalid.\" <\/p>\n
Tokyo city officials say the survey is crucial and includes measuring the water depth to build a dock at the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Japan's central government did not grant permission to land on the islands. <\/p>\n
Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, a strong nationalist, has raised 1.45 billion yen ($19 million) in private donations over the last several months to buy the islands from the Japanese family that owns them. Supporters think having the government own the islands will strengthen Japan's control over them and send a tougher message to China. <\/p>\n
\"It is an undeniable fact that the islands are Japanese territory, so our task is to see how we can best maintain that,\" Yoshihiko Yamada, a special adviser to the city's team, said aboard the boat. <\/p>\n
The team was scheduled to study the islands for about 10 hours Sunday before heading back to Okinawa in southwestern Japan. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Originally posted here:<\/p>\n
A move to show ownership, Tokyo officials survey disputed islands<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tokyo city officials surveyed five tiny uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, which are controlled by Japan, but also claimed by China and Taiwan. Tokyo plans to buy the islands, a sale China calls 'invalid.' Tokyo city officials planning to buy tiny islands at the center of a longtime territorial dispute with China surveyed the area Sunday on a visit meant to send a message of ownership. Subscribe Today to the Monitor Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition The boat, carrying 25 experts and officials as well as journalists from news organizations including The Associated Press, circled the five uninhabited islands in the East China Sea which are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan Continue reading