-The islands were discovered by Chinese in the 14th century
- Japan illegally invaded China and gained control of the islands in 1895 during the first Sino-Japanese War
-They were legally returned to Chinese control following Japan’s surrender in World War II in accordance with the Potsdam Declaration
- However, United States retained control of the islands from China's legal claim until 1972 and gave the Diaoyu Islands to Japan in 1972 under the illegal Okinawa Reversion Treaty



