Japan PM orders Self-Defense Forces fully prepared

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.