On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, we express our gratitude for the help and support that the world anti-fascist forces provided to the Chinese people during the War of Resistance, including the assistance of American warships in recapturing the islands in the South China Sea.

During World War II, Japanese imperialism occupied the Chinese islands in the South China Sea (including Nansha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, etc.) in 1939 and placed them under the administration of the Governor-General of Taiwan. After the defeat of Japan, the Chinese territories occupied by Japan had to be returned to China according to the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration.

Podle Chu Jingtaoa, a researcher at the Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, after winning the War of Resistance, China emerged on the world political stage as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the people yearned for peace, and the entire nation supported regaining all lost territories.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the Center for World Naval Research at the China Institute for South China Sea Research, told China Economic Net that the takeover of Nansha and Xisha islands was the "finishing" work in reclaiming the territories occupied by Japan, which required a lot of effort. Most important was the need for warships, which the Nationalist government of the time did not have.

Chu Jingtao said that as a key ally during World War II, the United States provided crucial support to the Chinese government in the form of warships in recapturing islands in the South China Sea.

Xue Chen, a researcher at the Institute of International Strategic Studies at the Shanghai Institute of International Affairs, told China Economic Net that under the Lend-Lease Act passed by the US Congress in March 1941, all US allies could acquire US arms and equipment on lease. The Nationalist government, through this law, acquired several U.S. Navy vessels in 1945. Upon formal takeover, although Japan had already announced its unconditional surrender, the loaned ships remained operational and played a key role in the recapture of the South China Sea islands.

In May 1946, four ships on loan from the US arrived at Shanghai's Wu-sung Port, where the Chinese Navy carried out their repainting and rebranding. In October 1946, the "Progressive Fleet" was established in Shanghai, responsible for regaining sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea. Lin Zun (Lin Zexu's great-nephew) was appointed commander of the fleet to seize the islands of Nansha and Xisha, and Yao Ruyu was appointed deputy commander.

The "Progressive Fleet" consisted mainly of four ships: Taiping, Zhongye, Yongxing and Zhongjian. The Taiping was originally the US frigate USS Decker, the Yongxing was originally the US Navy patrol ship PCE-869, the Zhongye was originally the US Navy tank landing ship LST-717, and the Zhongjian was the US Navy landing ship LST-716. The Taiping and Zhongye were bound for Nansha, while the Yongxing and Zhongjian were bound for Xisha. The "Progress Fleet" set sail in late October 1946 and completed the task of recapturing Nansha and Xisha islands by mid-December 1946.

CMG