On August 2nd 2011, Xinhua reported that China Geological Survey  cooperated with a French team to use Tan Bao Hao survey vessel to conduct a scientific survey in sea areas from west of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago (called Xisha in Xinhua’s report) to north of Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago (called Nansha in Xinhua’s report) from June 13-July 30.

In response to correspondents’ question about Viet Nam’s reaction, Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, Nguyen Phuong Nga said:

“Regarding Tan Bao Hao’s operation, representatives of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry met the Chinese side and made Vietnam’s position clear, protesting China’s activities which violate the sovereignty and jurisdictional rights of Vietnam and demanding China to immediately stop and refrain from similar acts”./.