Timeline of islands dispute

April 16

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

April 17

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

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 27

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

May 2

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

June 10

Six Japanese lawmakers toured 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.

July 7

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

Aug 19

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

Aug 22

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

Aug 24 Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda claimed the Diaoyu Islands were part of Japan's territory, which strongly displeased Beijing.

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.

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.

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 10

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

Sept 11

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