The island

So...since when did a country need to buy islands from a private citizen, especially when said islands are part of an ongoing international dispute? Today in Japan, it seems.

尖閣:国の購入条件は 避難港の整備…石原 都知事

毎日新聞 2012年08月31日 20時31分

東京都の石原慎太郎知事は３１日の定例 記者会見で、尖閣諸島（沖縄県石垣市）の 購入を巡って野田佳彦首相と会談し、漁船 の避難港（船だまり）の整備などを条件に 国の購入を認める考えを伝えたと明らかに した。

石原知事によると、会談は政府側の要請 で１９日に首相官邸で行われた。知事は「 できるだけ早く、国も一緒になって所有 し、国の責任で実効支配をやってくれ」と 要望。その前提として「自衛隊を置けとは 言わない。最低限、船だまりや無線の中継 基地を造ってほしい。できれば灯台や有 人の気象観測所も」と話した。その際は、 １４億円以上が集まっている都への寄付金 を全額渡す意向も伝えたという。

一方、政府は尖閣諸島を国有化し、現状 のまま第三者の立ち入りを禁止して管理す る方針を固めている。石原知事は野田首相 から回答がないと説明したうえで「いい返 事が来ることを願ってますが、来ないん じゃないか」と話した。【佐々木洋】

http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20120901k0000m010053000c.html

Senkaku: According to Tokyo mayor Ishara, the country must prepare an evacuation port as a term of purchase

Tokyo’s mayor Shinjiro Ishihara spoke at his regularly scheduled press conference on the 31 st concerning the Senkaku Islands (Okinawa Prefecture, Ishigaki City). He revealed that in a meeting with Prime Minister Yoshihiro Noda he agreed to the country purchasing the Senkaku islands provided that they build a shelter harbor for fishing boats (safe harbor).

According to Mayor Ishihara, the meeting was held at the request of the government on the 19 th at the Prime Minister’s residence. The mayor expressed his desire that “as quickly as possible unite the islands with the country and demonstrate your effective control over them.” By way of explanation, he continued “I’m not saying deploy the defense force to the island. At the very least, I’m asking for a safe harbor and radio transmitter. Also, if possible, a lighthouse and manned weather station.” He also noted that the more than 1.4 billion yen that had been donated to the city could be handed over to the national government.

As it is, the government is finalizing an administrative policy of nationalizing the islands and, like the current situation, forbidding the entry of third parties to the islands. Mayor Ishihara said that he didn’t receive an answer from Prime Minister Noda, and that “I asked for a positive response, but I wonder if it won’t?”