China Condemns US Over Venezuela Oil Dispute and Presidential Capture
Beijing has sharply criticised the United States after President Donald Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela, accusing Washington of blatant interference in another sovereign nation’s affairs and violating international law. China’s response underscores rising tensions over geopolitics, energy and influence as global powers scrutinise the unfolding crisis in Caracas and Washington.
In Washington this week, Trump made clear that the United States intends to take control of Venezuelan oil resources, including millions of barrels of crude that are currently subject to sanctions. The president’s remarks came amid ongoing operations by US forces in Venezuela, where his administration has carried out strikes, seized oil tankers and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The White House says the oil could be sold in international markets and that control of these resources would benefit both the US and the Venezuelan people, though critics argue the moves amount to coercion.
China’s government has responded forcefully to these developments, framing them as a breach of key principles of international relations. Chinese foreign ministry officials said the United States’ actions, from military intervention to oil control, amounted to a blatant violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and posed a serious threat to peace and stability in Latin America and beyond. Beijing’s statements emphasise that Caracas has full and permanent sovereignty over its natural resources and the right to decide its own economic partnerships, free from external interference.
In remarks delivered at a press briefing, Chinese spokespeople described Washington’s demand that Venezuela prioritise oil cooperation with the US as typical bullying and an affront to international law. They stressed that energy cooperation between sovereign states should be protected under both domestic and international legal frameworks, and criticised the United States’ insistence that Caracas cut ties with traditional partners. China’s government reiterated that cooperation agreements signed with Venezuela are legitimate and must be respected.
Beijing also called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, arguing that they should be returned safely to Venezuela. Chinese officials reiterated their opposition to the use of force and unilateral actions that undermine peace and stability, urging all parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation instead of coercion. China expressed its support for emergency discussions at the United Nations to address the escalating situation and defend fundamental principles of justice and fairness under the UN Charter.
The diplomatic backlash reflects broader geopolitical fault lines. Venezuela has long been a significant partner for China, with hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and energy contracts undergirding bilateral relations. Caracas has relied on Chinese financing and has exported crude oil to Beijing as part of longstanding economic arrangements. Analysts suggest that the US intervention threatens these ties and could reshape strategic dynamics in the region, raising the stakes for Beijing’s broader influence in Latin America.
Other countries have also voiced concern over Washington’s actions, with many urging respect for sovereignty and international law. Russia, Cuba, and several Latin American states condemned the US strikes and capture of Maduro as aggressive and illegal. Within this context, Beijing’s protest is both a defence of international norms and a signal of its broader geopolitical posture in the face of rising US assertiveness.
China’s denunciation of the United States over Venezuela illustrates how disputes over energy and foreign policy can escalate into broader diplomatic rifts, reinforcing the ongoing global contest for influence and strategic advantage.
