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 Tuesday morning.
Noda reviewed the guards of honor of JSDF inside the
Ministry of Defense, and then attended a senior commander meeting
of JSDF, accompanied by the Defense Minister Satoshi
Morimoto.
Noda made a speech to about 180 senior commanders of JSDF
at the meeting.
In the speech, Noda said the uncertainties over Japan's
peripheral security environment rose to the highest level as the
military activity of surrounding countries, including Democratic
People's Republic of Korea, China and Russia, became more active,
thus JSDF should monitor and analyze the countries
closely.
He particularly mentioned that China has been increasingly
active in surrounding seas.
The Japanese government has exchanged the official
contract on the purchase of Diaoyu Islands with Kurihara family
whom the Japanese side called "the private owner" Tuesday morning,
despite strong protest from China.
The Japanese government will pay the expense of 2.05
billion yen (26.15 million U.S. dollars) with government reserve
funds to the Kurihara family, who claims to own the Diaoyu Islands
in the East China Sea.
Demonstrating China's undisputable sovereignty over the
islands, two ships of the China Marine Surveillance (CMS) reached
the waters around the islets Tuesday morning.
The CMS has drafted an action plan for safeguarding
territorial sovereignty and would take actions pending the
development of the situation.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura announced
Monday afternoon that the Japanese government hopes the purchase
would not undermine the overall bilateral relations with
China.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry reacted quickly on Monday,
saying Japan's purchase of the islands is illegal and invalid and
China firmly opposes the move.
Chinese President Hu Jintao, during his meeting with
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on the sidelines of the APEC
summit on Sunday, made clear China's position on relations with
Japan and on the Diaoyu Islands issue.
Hu pointed out that China-Japan relations had recently
faced a severe situation due to the Diaoyu Islands
issue.