TAIPEI -- Taiwan on Tuesday strongly criticized Japan for formally signing a contract to "purchase" parts of the Diaoyu Islands, saying the move will hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people and escalate tensions in East Asia.
The Japanese government has exchanged an official contract on the purchase of the Diaoyu Islands with the Kurihara family, whom Japan called "the private owner," Japanese media reported on Tuesday morning.
Japan's Cabinet decided earlier in the day to tap reserve funds to purchase three of the five uninhabited islands.
According to the plan, the Japanese central government will pay 2.05 billion yen ($26.15 million) to the Kurihara family in exchange for the islands.
Timothy Yang, a senior Taiwan official, summoned Sumio Tarui, the Japanese envoy in Taipei, to strongly protest Japan's move.
Meanwhile, Taiwan authorities ordered its envoy in Tokyo, Shen Ssu-tsun, to lodge a strong protest with the Japanese government over the issue and to fly back to Taipei as soon as possible to brief on the situation.
Yang told a press conference after his meeting with Tarui that Taiwan harshly condemns Japan's stubborn move.
The Japanese government showed no respect for historical evidence and international conventions by nationalizing the Diaoyu Islands, he said.
He added that Taiwan will not accept any unilateral and illegal move by Japan to "purchase" the islands and will condemn such a move in the harshest term.
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