Concerning the question from the media about the December 7 - 8 incident in which Chinese authorities busted three fishing boats from Quang Ngai province which were operating normally in Vietnam's Hoang Sa Archipelago, seizing two boats with equipment and possession of the fishermen before releasing 43 fishermen in one boat, Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Spokesperson, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga responded that:

" Vietnam is concerned about the Chinese repeated seizures of Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen while they operate normally in the waters of Vietnamese sovereignty. Such wrongful act is a serious violation of Vietnam's sovereignty and sovereign rights, not in line with the friendship relations between the two countries and puts to harm life and property of Vietnamese fishermen. On December 15th , 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam handed a diplomatic note to the Embassy of China in Vietnam, demanding the Chinese side return boats, equipment and property of the Vietnamese fishermen and take measures to prevent similar recurrence."