(LinkAsia: July 13, 2012)
Yul Kwon:                                                                      
In addition to its dispute with South Korea, Japan is locked in a territorial struggle over another set of islands that it calls the Senkaku. Japan currently controls the uninhabited islands, but China and Taiwan are disputing its claim. Now the Japanese government is upping the ante. Here's Japanese broadcaster NHK with the story.

--

NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: July 9, 2012

Reporter:
The five, uninhabited islets lie off Okinawa. The state owns one of them. It's been renting the others from a Japanese family since 2002. Now the Noda administration is considering buying them.

Osamu Fujimura, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary:
The purpose is to ensure peaceful and stable management of the islands and surrounding waters. Buying them instead of continuing the present one-year lease would help do that.

Reporter:
Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura denies the existence of a dispute over the Senkakus. He says history and international law back up Japan's claim. Fujimura adds the government will maintain tight security on the islands. He says officials are involved in a number of different negotiations.