Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara announced in Washington last Monday that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is in the final stage of negotiations to buy most of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea from the landowner Mr. Kunioki Kurihara, a resident of Saitama. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reacted to the news by hinting at the possibility of nationalizing the islands.
The islands are part of Japanese territories and Japan exercises effective rule over them. But both China and Taiwan lay claim to the archipelago and China repeatedly takes provocative action in the area. Japan should deal with China and Taiwan with a resolute attitude concerning the sovereignty over the islands. Still, both Mr. Ishihara and Mr. Noda must maintain cool heads when considering whether changing the ownership status of the islands is a wise move since it could unnecessarily provoke China and Taiwan.
The Senkaku Islands are located about 400 km west of Okinawa Island. In 1895, Japan incorporated the islands into Okinawa Prefecture after confirming that no other country also laid claim. After World War II, they were administered by the United States. In 1972, the islands reverted back to Japanese control together with Okinawa.