BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Thursday commemorated the 70th anniversary of the recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands.
In compliance of the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation, China in November and December 1946 designated officials to proceed to the Xisha and Nansha Islands by four warships to take over the islands, illegally occupied by Japan.
Ceremonies were held to demonstrate that China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over the islands.
"Recovering these islands was an important achievement of China's war against aggression, demonstrating that China was firmly safeguarding the post-war international order and affirming the nation as defending its rights and interests in the South China Sea," said PLA Navy Commander Wu Shengli at the commemoration.
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