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The Chinese government condemned the military attack by the United States in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro this Saturday, describing the operation as a "serious violation of international law and national sovereignty."
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, the Chinese government expressed being "deeply shocked" by the U.S. intervention and stated its "strong opposition to any unilateral military action" in Latin America.
“Those hegemonic acts by the United States seriously violate international law and the sovereignty of Venezuela, and threaten peace and security in the Latin American and Caribbean region,” stated the ministry, as quoted by Reuters.
Beijing also urged Washington to "adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter" and to "immediately cease any violations of the sovereignty and security of other countries."
The statement was made just hours after President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. special forces had captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a nighttime operation carried out by the Delta Force unit.
China, one of Venezuela's main allies over the past twenty years, has been a key partner of Chavismo through multimillion-dollar oil and credit agreements. Beijing has maintained a policy of non-interference but has repeatedly condemned sanctions and threats of military intervention against Caracas.
With this statement, the Chinese government joins other countries, such as Iran and Cuba, that have also condemned the U.S. offensive and warned about the risk of escalation in the region.
Beijing reaffirmed its call for dialogue and regional stability, insisting that Latin America must continue to be a "zone of peace and cooperation."
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