On August 15, 2012, China lodged solemn representations with Japan on the latter's illegal detention of Chinese nationals going to the Diaoyu Islands. Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying urgently summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa and made a phone call to her Japanese counterpart Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi on the matter.

Fu reiterated China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and the affiliated islets, and demanded the Japanese side guarantee the safety of the 14 Chinese citizens and free them immediately without any conditions.