Okada Says Buying Disputed Islands Could Help Japan-China Ties

A Japanese proposal to buy islands also claimed by China could lead to “peaceful and stable relations,” Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada said.

The government is in talks to buy the islands, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Daioyu in Chinese, from their private owner, quashing an attempted purchase by Tokyo governor and China critic Shintaro Ishihara. China yesterday rejected the idea and vowed to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty over the islands.