No matter how much money Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara raises from his compatriots, China's islands are not for sale.

Ishihara has announced he wants to buy three islands from their self-proclaimed "private owner". But as the islands don't belong to this illegitimate owner, Ishihara's move would be both illegal and impossible.

And if terra nullius justified ownership, Japan would be able to claim ownership of many islands owned by other countries around the world.