- Title: CHINA: China slams Japans reported Diaoyu/Senkaku island purchase plans
- Date: 5th September 2012
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 5, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI WALKING INTO NEWS BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI SAYING: "In spite of the many representations China has made, Japan has ignored China's opposition, pushing forward with so-called 'nationalising the Diaoyu islands,' and has seriously harmed China's territorial sovereignty and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. We can't help but ask: 'Where is Japan trying to lead Sino-Japan relations?'" MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI SAYING: "China's will and determination to protest its territorial sovereignty is unswerving. China is following developments closely, and will take necessary measures to protect its national territorial sovereignty" BRIEFING IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 20th September 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5HSJG3V7Y7K7HAAXX1JE9ZT4U
- Story Text: China's Foreign Ministry says China will take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty over disputed islands, known as the Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, after Japanese media reported Japan had agreed to buy some of them from their private owners.
China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday (September 5) that China will take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty over disputed islands after Japanese media reported Japan has agreed to buy some of them.
The uninhabited islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have long been a source of friction. Japan and China have competing territorial claims to the islets and surrounding fishing areas and potentially rich gas deposits.
Japanese daily newspapers Asahi and Yomiuri said that the government will buy some of the islets for 2.05 billion yen (26.15 million U.S. dollars) and the owners will sign a contract soon.
The planned purchase of the islands, controlled by Japan and claimed by Taiwan as well, will be approved in a cabinet meeting as early as mid-September, the newspapers said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei questioned where Japan wanted to take Sino-Japan relations.
"In spite of the many representations China has made, Japan has ignored China's opposition, pushing forward with so-called 'nationalising the Diaoyu islands,' and has seriously harmed China's territorial sovereignty and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. We can't help but ask: 'Where is Japan trying to lead Sino-Japan relations?'," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a news briefing.
The Japanese coast guard last month detained Chinese activists who sailed from Hong Kong and landed on the East China Sea islands, triggering anti-Japanese demonstrations in China.
Hong added China was watching developments closely.
"China's will and determination to protest its territorial sovereignty is unswerving. China is following developments closely, and will take necessary measures to protect its national territorial sovereignty," he said.
The row is part of a broader series of territorial disputes in the South China and East China Seas that have set China against U.S. regional allies such as Japan and the Philippines.
On Tuesday (September 4), China warned the United States not to get involved in the disputes, just as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Beijing pledging to send a strong message on the need to calm regional tension. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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