China has called on the United States to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after the United States carried out a major military offensive on the capital Caracas and other areas and abducted the leader.
The Chinese government on Sunday insisted that the safety of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, was its top priority, calling the attack a “clear violation of international law” and calling on the United States to “stop the overthrow of the Venezuelan government.”
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This was the second statement issued by China since Saturday, when US President Donald Trump said Washington had taken Maduro and his wife out of the country on a plane.
On Saturday, Beijing accused the United States of “hegemonic acts” and “blatant use of force” against Venezuela and its president, and called on the United States to abide by the United Nations Charter.
Andy Mok, a senior fellow at the China Center on Globalization, said China is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela.
Mok told Al Jazeera that a Chinese delegation met with Venezuelan officials hours before the US action, adding that Beijing was not surprised by the US move, given the scale of US strategic and economic interests in the region.
What stood out, he said, was the way the operation was conducted, which he said “could represent the long-term strategy of the United States in the region.”
Mok added that although China is Venezuela’s largest oil buyer, its oil imports only account for 4-5% of the country’s total oil imports. Beyond energy, he said, China is increasing its trade and investment interests across Latin America, which means Beijing is paying close attention to political changes in the region.
Mok warned that tensions with China could increase if a future U.S. administration reinstates Monroe Doctrine-style policies, as Latin America is a “pillar of China’s Global South strategy.”
Still, China-based analyst Sean Lane says China is likely to limit its response to events in Venezuela to diplomatic protests rather than hard power.
“I think China has issued a very strong condemnation of the United States and is working with other Latin American and Caribbean countries to say this is not right,” Rain, founder of the China Market Research Group, told Al Jazeera.
Lane said the Chinese government is deeply alarmed but restrained and its options are limited.
“There’s not much China can do. Frankly speaking, China doesn’t have a military. There are only two military bases outside of China, but the United States has 800,” Lane said, stressing that “historically China has not been belligerent.”
“China will only issue statements criticizing U.S. actions, but it has no intention of hitting back with military action, and it probably won’t hit back with economic sanctions.”
Global condemnation and celebration
Since the U.S. military action in Venezuela, there has been a flurry of global reactions, with opinions sharply divided over the intervention.
Left-wing regional leaders such as Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Mexico have largely condemned Maduro’s ouster, while countries with right-wing governments from Argentina to Ecuador have largely welcomed it.
North Korea blamed the United States. State news agency KCNA reported Sunday that it attacked Venezuela, calling the act “the most serious form of violation of sovereignty.”
“This incident is yet another example that clearly confirms the dishonest and cruel nature of the United States,” KCNA quoted North Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson as saying.
South Korea responded on Sunday, calling for a easing of tensions.
“Our government urges all parties concerned to make maximum efforts to reduce tensions in the region. We hope that through dialogue the situation will be stabilized quickly, democracy will be firmly restored, and the will of the Venezuelan people will be respected,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday he supported a “peaceful and democratic transition” in Venezuela, but called for international law to be respected.
He said in a statement that the government was “monitoring developments.”
Venezuela has become increasingly isolated, especially after the election of President Maduro in 2024.
However, China and Russia continue to maintain strong economic and strategic ties, with a growing alliance with Iran over shared opposition to U.S. policies.
