Xinhua reported on April 7 that Hainan (Haixie) Strait Shipping Co Ltd had run Coconut Princess cruise ship on a pilot voyage on April 6 night from Sanya, Hainan to Da Bac (North Reef) of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. In response to this action, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on April 9, 2012 stressed that:

“Viet Nam affirms its indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.

That action by the Chinese side is illegal and seriously violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty. It also goes against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

China must immediately stop that action, strictly abide by DOC and refrain from further actions to complicate the situation in the East Sea.”