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NL888 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
What does " By purchasing them instead" mean?
Does it mean "Japanese overnment purchased them (and promised to keep them undeveloped)"?
Context:
The uptick in Chinese anger over the disputed islands comes even though the Japanese government hoped its purchase would calm, rather than inflame the situation. Tokyo's nationalistic governor, Shintaro Ishihara, proposed buying the islands in April and planned to develop them -- something that Beijing would have seen as an attempt to solidify Japan's claim. By purchasing them instead, the Japanese government has promised to keep them undeveloped.
Context:
The uptick in Chinese anger over the disputed islands comes even though the Japanese government hoped its purchase would calm, rather than inflame the situation. Tokyo's nationalistic governor, Shintaro Ishihara, proposed buying the islands in April and planned to develop them -- something that Beijing would have seen as an attempt to solidify Japan's claim. By purchasing them instead, the Japanese government has promised to keep them undeveloped.
Top answer
In my opinion, this does not compute. Something is missing. Did the Japanese buy the islands or not?
- In my opinion, this does not compute.
- Something is missing.
- Did the Japanese buy the islands or not?
- If they had bought them in April they would have planned to develop them?
- But they did not.
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5 Answers
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In my opinion, this does not compute. Something is missing. Did the Japanese buy the islands or not?
If they had bought them in April they would have planned to develop them? But they did not.
Now they have purchased them and promised not to develop them?
The wording is terrible. It makes no sense. By purchasing them instead of what? Not purchasing them?
If they had bought them in April they would have planned to develop them? But they did not.
Now they have purchased them and promised not to develop them?
The wording is terrible. It makes no sense. By purchasing them instead of what? Not purchasing them?
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Yes, but that is an educated guess. It says that the Japanese government, instead of Ishihara, purchased them, but it goes on to say that the purchase was a promise, which is nonsense. The writer meant that the Japanese government both purchased them and promised not to develop them.
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Hi, enoon,
That seems like quite a leap.
Do you have any independent information that Ishihara was proposing to purchase the islands personally?
Governor of Japan must be a well-paying job.
(Perhaps I misunderstand what you've said.)
Best wishes, - A.
That seems like quite a leap.
Do you have any independent information that Ishihara was proposing to purchase the islands personally?
Governor of Japan must be a well-paying job.
(Perhaps I misunderstand what you've said.)
Best wishes, - A.
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AvangiDo you have any independent information that Ishihara was proposing to purchase the islands personally?No, but that's what it says. We are seeing even-worse-than-usual writing by a reporter. My recommendation to the OP is to forget it and stop reading whoever wrote that mess.
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