HOME >>
Japan signs "purchase" contract on Diaoyu Islands
Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2012-9-11 16:43:00
| Latest News |
|
China has carried out the first round of countermeasures against Japan after its government signed a contract to buy the Diaoyu Islands on September 11 to "nationalize" the islands, by sending two law enforcement vessels to the waters near the islands. |
|
| Japan signs 'islands-buying' contract amid China's strong protests The Japanese government has signed the contract on the purchase of Diaoyu Islands in 2.05 billion yen ($26.15 million) with Kurihara family whom the Japanese side called "the private owner", NHK reported on September 11. |
|
| Int'l Reactions |
 |
Actions |
| ●Economic boycott Some Web users even suggested boycotting Japanese goods. About 20 percent of tourists bound for Japan during the forthcoming weeklong Mid-Autumn Day and National Day Holiday have canceled their travel plans due to safety concerns after the incident. ●Military drills In recent days, three Chinese military areas, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Jinan, staged a series of military drills, which led to speculation that they were targeting the dispute surrounding the Diaoyu Islands. ●Chinese FM summons Japanese ambassador over Diaoyu Islands China’s foreign minister has summoned Japan’s ambassador to China, to express resolute opposition and strong protest over Japan’s announcement. ●Two Chinese patrol ships reach waters around Diaoyu Islands Two ships of the China Marine Surveillance (CMS) have reached the waters around the Diaoyu Islands on September 11 to assert the country's sovereignty. ●China presses Diaoyu claim China has announced the base points and baselines of the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands and plans to conduct routine monitoring of the islands and their adjacent waters, as part of the strongest reaffirmation of the country's sovereignty over the islands in the East China Sea yet. ●Chinese protest Japanese "purchase" of Diaoyu Islands Rallies and protests broke out in several Chinese cities on September 11 to oppose Japan's "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets. |
|
| Top officials' voices |
|
| ●Hu states China's stance on Japan ties, Diaoyu Islands: Chinese President Hu Jintao seriously pointed out that China-Japan relations have recently faced a severe situation due to the Diaoyu Islands issue, saying China holds a consistent, clear stance on the issue. ●"Absolutely no concession" on Diaoyu Islands, says Chinese premier Premier Wen Jiabao said the Diaoyu Islands are an inalienable part of China's territory and China will "absolutely make no concession" on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity. ●CPPCC condemns Japan's "nationalization" of Diaoyu Islands The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, on Tuesday voiced strong condemnation of Japan's so-called "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Islands and some of their affiliated islets. ●China's defense ministry voices protest to Japan over Diaoyu Islands China’s Ministry of National Defense says the armed forces of China are completely opposed to the Japanese government’s move to "purchase" Diaoyu Islands and two of its affiliated islets. ●Foreign Ministry: Japan "purchase" of Diaoyu Islands invalid Hong Lei, spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said China will take necessary steps to safeguard the Diaoyu Islands. (Full text of Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC) |
|
| ●Taiwan strongly protests Japan's move to "purchase" Diaoyu Islands Taiwan's leader, officials and media have strongly protested against Japan's move to "purchase" parts of the Diaoyu Islands. |
|
 |
●Japanese PM orders Self-Defense Forces fully prepared for emergency Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda ordered Japan's Self Defense Forces (JSDF) to be fully prepared for any emergency under the complex peripheral security environment at the Ministry of Defense. ●Japan appoints new ambassador to China Japanese cabinet appointed Shinichi Nishimiya as the new ambassador to China, replacing Uichiro Niwa. ●Japan does not wish to hurt its broader relationship with China: Chief Cabinet Secretary Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Japan does not wish to hurt its broader relationship with China. He suggested the government will carefully explain its position to China to avoid any future misunderstanding or contingency involving the Senkaku Islands. |
 |
●US wants to see this issue settled through dialogue: spokesman U.S State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said message of US to both sides was the same. She said US wanted to see the matter handled calmly and be settled through dialogue. |
| View Points |
| Chinese media comments | |
 |
Global Times
●Discard illusion of friendly ties with JapanKeeping friendly neighboring ties is a good policy. But it cannot be achieved through one-sided begging and compromising. ●Island purchase sinks hope of solving dispute Japan's unilateral action has seriously damaged the diplomatic relations between China and Japan. The only possible means to save the bilateral diplomatic relations is to stop any form of "islands purchase." ●Regaining Diaoyu needs long-term efforts Japan has tight control over Diaoyu, but that control is not that defensible. China's maritime power should be reflected in the waters around Diaoyu. The confrontation with Japan will be a long-term one. China's development in the next few decades depends on the Diaoyu Islands. ● Japan's domestic politics doesn't alter China's stance China does not have a choice. Japan's provocations have challenged China's bottom line. If China does not fight back accordingly, it will become passive in the dispute and domestic cohesion will suffer too. |
 |
Xinhua News Agency
●China's determination to safeguard sovereignty unshakable From announcing base points and baselines of territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands to the patrolling, China has taken just and legitimate actions to safeguard its sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, which has won widespread applause from the Chinese public. |
 |
People's Daily
●Diaoyu Islands will remain China's A commentary in the People’s Daily says the Chinese government has been keen to defend its sovereignty over the Diaoyu islands and its affiliated islands. It says any of the Japanese attempts to occupy the islands will end in failure. |
 |
Shanghai Morning Post
●The Shanghai Morning Post blames Japan for not only mistaking China’s kindness for weakness, but also underestimating China’s determination to protect their national core interests. The paper suggested that Japan believes China will try to reconcile the dispute because it is focused on economic development, and will ultimately back down in fear of the US, who has conducted several joint-military exercises with Japan. Though reluctant to trigger discord, China will not back down, especially on issues of sovereignty. “If the day comes when China must solve the problem once and for all, we are not afraid to pay the price, and the country that makes us do so will pay a much higher price than we do,” said the paper. |
 |
Beijing Times
●The Beijing Times opined that some parties in Japan are trying to challenge China’s bottom line, and if the situation is not brought under control it will harm Sino-Japanese relations, while have a reaching influence on peace and stability in the region. China has started to fight back, which is a legitimate response. “If Japan doesn’t take responsibility for its deeds, China will make it pay,” said the paper. |
| Weibo celebrity voices and comments | |
 |
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times China will not wage a war against Japan. I am sure about this. China should have the courage to confront Japan over Diaoyu Islands and build large law enforcement ships to drive away Japanese ships. If they crash into our ships, then we'll crash right back. Does Japan dare to wage war? Of course not. Just keep going back and forth with them this way. China is becoming increasingly powerful. After our ships stationed on Diaoyu Islands outnumber Japan's, we could surround them. The one who finally takes over control of Diaoyu Islands will definitely not be the declining Japan. @开心的闲云野鹤: It is unavoidable that law enforcement ships will confront each other. As of now both the number and quality of China's law enforcement ships are lower than Japan's, but it is not impossible to surpass them. @李天旭: A country needs military strength to defend itself. Our territory is being invaded now, and there is nothing to do but protect our territory with armed forces. China is no longer what it was in the past. |
 |
Yang Rui, CCTV host: Today almost every front page in Chinese media is carrying a story about the Diaoyu Islands. I am surprised. We certainly can not give in on this sovereignty issue, but the rising nationalistic sentiment in China is a double-edged sword - incidents of violence might occur. Media outlets compete for readerships and sales with shocking news stories. But this misleads the public into thinking that we are likely going to war. This is ridiculous! These words might draw a lot of criticism, but I still want to say "I oppose such commercialized nationalism". @六六: I oppose it, too. Before making any important decisions, we should make it clear who will benefit and who will lose. We cannot do something that is not only bad to others but also not good for ourselves. @花生壳小妞: Actually the public does not hope for war. They just hope China could declare sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands with real actions instead of stopping with verbal protests. @一个月减20斤: There are many ways to solve disputes, and armed conflict is just one of these ways. Japan crossed the line when its Self-Defense Forces entered into the waters off the Diaoyu Islands. This is testing the courage of both Chinese and Japanese leadership. |
| Background |
| Related Reports |
News Reports:
●Two Japanese floats nixed from parade
Special Coverages:
●Diaoyu Islands Dispute
●Tokyo govt survey group starts illegal survey at waters near Diaoyu
●Japan flag grabbed from ambassador's car
●Japan, US conduct island defense drill near Diaoyu Islands
●Japan urged to ensure safety of Diaoyu activists
●Lawyer sues Japan over Diaoyu bid for violating Chinese sovereignty
●Japan recalls Chinese ambassador over Diaoyu tensions
●Chinese navy holds live-fire drill in E.China Sea
●Diaoyu Islands can't be 'bought': FM spokesman
●Taiwan backs Diaoyu activists as mainland urges Japanese restraint
Posted in: