The city government of Tokyo’s survey staff sail around a group of disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China in the East China Sea in this picture taken by Kyodo September 2, 2012. The city government of Tokyo sent a ship to survey a group of disputed islands between Japan and China, as it considers possibly buying them. The uninhabited islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China have long been a source of friction between Tokyo and Beijing and competing territorial claims to the islets and surrounding fishing areas and potentially rich gas deposits. The Tokyo city government has rented a nearly 2,500 ton survey vessel to take 25 experts around the islands to determine how they could be used if bought. Mandatory credit REUTERS/Kyodo (JAPAN – Tags: POLITICS) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. MANDATORY CREDIT. JAPAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPAN