The 1945 Potsdam Proclamation, a statement of terms for the unconditional surrender of Japan issued in the names of the United States, China and the United Kingdom, determined that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out, including that China's northeast regions, Taiwan Island, Penghu Islands and its surrounding islands, should return to China.

The Diaoyu Islands are not within the Japanese sovereignty outlined by the declaration.

Mei Zhaorong, former Chinese ambassador to Germany, said this document is historical and legal evidence of China's ownership of the islands, while Li's presence there warns the Japanese right-wing forces not to try to deny the achievements of the world anti-fascist war.