Timeline

Sept 16: Beijing announced it will submit a partial submission concerning the outer limits of the continental shelf to the United Nations in its latest move to defend its maritime sovereignty.

Newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to China Shinichi Nishimiya died Sunday morning in a hospital in Tokyo.

Sept 15: The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) on Saturday 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 sent its maritime surveilance ships to waters around Diaoyu Islands.

Sept 11: 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".

Japanese cabinet appointed Shinichi Nishimiya as the new ambassador to China, replacing Uichiro Niwa.

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.

Sept 11: Following the Japanese government's announcement on the so-called "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Islands, China's civil patrol ships Tuesday reached the waters around the islands to start patrolling and showing China's sovereignty over these islands.

Sept 10: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China issued a statement, saying that Japanese government intention to "purchase" Diaoyu Islands constitutes a gross violation of China's sovereignty over its own territory and is highly offensive to the 1.3 billion Chinese people.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi urgently summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa for a meeting to lodge solemn representations and strong protest against the Japanese government's illegal "buying" of the Diaoyu Islands.

Sept 10: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the Diaoyu Islands are an inalienable part of China's territory and China will "absolutely make no concession" on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Sept 9: Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and made clear China's position on its relations with Japan and the Diaoyu Islands issue.

Aug 16: China on Thursday once again urged Japan to "immediately and unconditionally" release Chinese nationals illegally detained by the latter over the Diaoyu Islands issue.

Aug 23: When the fishing boat Kai Fung No 2 drew alongside the public pier at Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui on Wednesday, a crowd of supporters erupted in cheers. On board were seven activists from the group of 14 Chinese who sailed to the Diaoyu Islands to assert China's sovereignty.

Aug 15:Seven activists from Hong Kong landed on the Diaoyu Islands at around 5:30 pm local time on Wednesday, according to Japan Coast Guard (JCG).

Japan in total arrested 14 Chinese activists on Wednesday including seven who landed on the Diaoyu Islands at around 5:30 pm local time on suspicion of illegal entry, and would later detain the vessel, according to police from Japan's Okinawa.

July 7:On the 75th anniversary of the July 7 Incident, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said his government was negotiating with a "private owner" to "nationalize" part of the Diaoyu Islands.

"China's holy territory is not 'up for sale' to anyone," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in response to remarks Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda made on Saturday.

May 8:The Tokyo metropolitan government went further in its plan to purchase three of the Diaoyu Islands, announcing that total donations had reached over 200 million yen ($2.5 million) by May 7.

May 2:China's fishery administration authorities confirmed that two of its vessels have sailed into waters near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

April 27:Ishihara announced that the metropolitan government had set up an account for people to send money to help it purchase the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, the Japan Times reported.

April 17: China reiterated that the Diaoyu Islands and other affiliated isles have been an inherent part of Chinese territory since ancient times, and China holds indisputable sovereignty over them.

April 16: Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said that the metropolitan government plans to buy theDiaoyu Islandsin the East China Sea.