Japan to buy disputed islands, angering China

TOKYO -- Japan said yesterday it has decided to purchase several disputed islands, prompting China to angrily warn of "serious consequences" if it proceeds with the plan.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Japan will buy the three uninhabited islands in the East China Sea from a private Japanese family it recognizes as the owner. China and Taiwan also claim the islands, which are part of what Japan calls the Senkakus and China the Diaoyu group.

Fujimura said the decision to nationalize the islands reflects Japan's desire to create a "stable and secure" environment, not to anger China.

"We hope there will be no misunderstandings," he said.

China's Foreign Ministry responded swiftly, saying in a statement that Beijing would not "sit back and watch its territorial sovereignty violated." It added: "China strongly urges Japan to immediately stop all action to undermine China's territorial sovereignty and return to a negotiated settlement to the dispute. If Japan insists on going its own way, it will bear all the serious consequences that follow."

It did not specify the possible consequences.

State-run China Central Television reported that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had also summoned the Japanese ambassador in protest.

Fujimura said the decision to buy the islands was made at a meeting of cabinet ministers who are involved in the purchase plans. The full cabinet, led Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, is expected to approve the decision today.

Supporters believe having the government own the islands will strengthen Japan's claim and control over them and send a tougher message to China.

Under the nationalization plan, the islands are to be left as they are now. China does not recognize the Japanese family's deed to the islands as legitimate.

In April, the outspoken nationalist governor of Tokyo announced that he was hoping that his city would buy the islands and push for their development, a move that would have inflamed relations with China even more.