The central government Monday rejected a request by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to send a survey team to the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands as part of plans to purchase three of the five uninhabited islets, officials said.

The metropolitan government planned to conduct the survey on the East China Sea islets, which are also claimed by China and Taiwan, in connection with its failing plan to purchase the three largest ones.

The central government, which leases four of the Senkaku islets from private owners represented by a Saitama businessman, bans any unauthorized landings in principle. The state already owns the fifth and smallest islet, Taishojima.