China supports Venezuela in safeguarding its sovereignty, dignity and legitimate rights, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, as Beijing reiterated opposition to what it describes as a unilateral U.S. military intervention in the South American nation.
At a daily press briefing, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that a month ago the United States “blatantly launched military strikes against Venezuela and forcibly seized President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.” Lin characterised the actions as hegemonic and said they had “seriously violated international law and infringed upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, jeopardizing peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.” China “firmly opposes it,” he added.
Lin stressed that China will work with the international community to “resolutely defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the fundamental principles of international justice and international fairness.”
The remarks build on earlier Chinese criticism of the U.S. operation, including condemnation at the United Nations Security Council, where Chinese representatives described the U.S. military action as a violation of basic norms of international relations and sovereignty.