Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has said that he decided to purchase the islands for the Japanese central government to prevent Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara from purchasing them with municipal funds.
O Primeiro-Ministro Yoshihiko Noda afirmou que decidira comprar as ilhas para o governo central Japonês no sentido de prevenir que o Governador de Tóquio Shintaro Ishihara as comprasse com fundos municipais.