The Diaoyu Islands

Oct 16

Japan's Defense Ministry says it has spotted seven Chinese naval vessels appear in waters 49 kilometers south-southeast of Yonaguni Island, Japan's westernmost inhabited island.

Oct 5

Japanese media named its country's new ambassador to China, an appointment observers said is aimed at easing the standoff with China amid tensions concerning the Diaoyu Islands.

Oct 3

Chinese marine surveillance ships will continue to patrol in the waters off the Diaoyu Islands, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said. According to the State Oceanic Administration, the patrol team -- composed of Haijian 50, Haijian 15, Haijian 26 and Haijian 27 -- are carrying out normal rights-safeguarding activities around the Diaoyu Islands.

Sept 30

A Chinese spokesman refuted the remarks of a Japanese politician and reiterated China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. Maehara, a former leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, reportedly said Saturday that China was "distorting historical facts" when it said Japan grabbed the Diaoyu Islands from China.?Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said in response to a question concerning Seiji Maehara's remarks,"It is a clear fact that the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets are China's inherent territory."

Sept 25

A US Congressional report, published by the Congressional Research Service, said Washington has never recognized Japan's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and takes no position over the territorial row between Japan and China. The report said the US recognizes only Japan's administrative power over the Diaoyu Islands after the Okinawa Reversion Treaty was signed in 1971.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi agreed to a meeting following a request by his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba and they met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun held talks with Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chikao Kawai on bilateral relations, especially on the issue concerning the Diaoyu Islands, in Beijing, capital of China.

China issued a white paper on Diaoyu Islands, asserting indisputable sovereignty.?

Sept 24

A total of 75 fishing boats from Taiwan sailed to the Diaoyu Islands from a port in the island's northeastern county of Yilan.

Japan's top government spokesman expressed strong regret over China's decision to cancel a ceremonial event to mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries.?

Sept 23

The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said that China would promote the use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to strengthen the nation's marine surveillance and step up efforts to enhance its surveillance of the islands and islets including the Diaoyu Islands and Huangyan Island.

Hirohisa Fujii, 80, former Finance Minister and chief advisor to the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in his reelection bid, said in an interview with public broadcaster NHK that Japan should shelve the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands in accordance with the consensus with the Chinese side.?

Sept 21

The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) and the Ministry of Civil Affairs jointly released a list of standardized names for the geographic entities on the Diaoyu Island and some of its affiliated islets.?

Sept 20

China published a pamphlet stating that Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets in the East China Sea are China's "inherent territory." The pamphlet, published in Chinese, English and Japanese by the State Oceanic Administration, will be issued both at home and abroad.?

Sept 18

Chinese marine surveillance ships continued patrol and law enforcement activities around the Diaoyu Islands. During the patrol, the Chinese surveillance ships (10 in total) encountered interception from the Japanese side. Japan sent six vessels and three planes (a fixed-wing plane, a helicopter and an anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft) to the area.?

Sept 16

Overseas Chinese rallied in Houston and Chicago to protest the Japanese government's "purchase" of China's Diaoyu Islands and voice support for China's sovereignty over the islands.?

Sept 15

The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) released a string of geographic coordinates of the Diaoyu Island and some of its affiliated islets, in a new move to affirm China's sovereignty.

Sept 14

China's permanent representative to the United Nations Li Baodong met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and filed a copy of the Chinese government's Diaoyu Islands baseline announcement with the United Nations.

Sept 12

China urged Japan to nullify its decision on "purchasing" the Diaoyu Islands.

Sept 11

The Japanese government signed the official contract with Kurihara family, the so-called private owner of China's Diaoyu Islands.

Sept 10

The Japanese government officially decided to "purchase" part of Diaoyu Islands in a ministerial meeting.

Sept 9

President Hu Jintao told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda during the APEC forum that Beijing will not recognize Japan's "purchase" of the islands under any circumstances.

Sept 5

The Japanese government finally reached an agreement with the Kurihara family, the so-called private owner of three of the five islands, trying to "nationalize" the disputed islands.

Aug 26

The Japanese government announced that a 2.05 billion yen ($26.26 million) bid for the Diaoyu Islands purchase plan to bring them under state control.

Aug 24

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda claimed the Diaoyu Islands were part of Japan's territory, which strongly displeased Beijing.

Aug 22

Seven Chinese nationals who were previously detained by Japanese authorities return to Hong Kong.

Aug 19

Ten Japanese right-wing activists illegally landed on the Diaoyu Islands.

Aug 15

A total of 14 Chinese nationals were illegally detained by Japan after landing on the Diaoyu Islands to claim China's sovereignty.

July 11

China fishery administration vessels were patrolling around the sea of the Diaoyu Islands during the fishing protection stint.

July 7

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said his government was negotiating with a "private owner" to "nationalize" part of the Diaoyu Islands.

June 11

The Japanese lower house held a parliamentary hearing on Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara's "purchase plan" for the Diaoyu Islands.

June 10

Six Japanese lawmakers toured the Diaoyu Islands.

May 8

The Tokyo metropolitan government announced total donations had reached more than 200 million yen ($2.5 million) as of May 7.

May 2

Two Chinese vessels from the fishery administration sailed into waters near the Diaoyu Islands.

April 27

The Tokyo metropolitan government set up an account to raise money for the so-called purchase plan.

April 18

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda hinted his government would consider "the purchase plan" and confirm the so-called owner's true intention.

April 17

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura indicated the central government might buy the islands if necessary.

April 16

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said the metropolitan government plans to buy the Diaoyu Islands.