China pledged on Wednesday to take “necessary measures” to defend its territory after Japanese media said Tokyo had agreed to buy a contested group of islands.
Japan’s government will pay private Japanese landowners US$26 million for three of the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, the reports said, citing unnamed government sources.
“We cannot help but ask where is Japan trying to lead China and Japan relations to?” said foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei in response to a question about the reports.
“The Chinese government is monitoring developments closely and will take necessary measures to defend its national territorial sovereignty.”
The chain, which lies on vital shipping lanes, is believed to sit on top of potentially rich gas fields.
China’s state media slammed the reported purchase as a prank, saying it would test Japan’s credibility over a “historical commitment” made in a landmark 1978 bilateral friendship treaty to resolve the issue.