Beijing has sharply criticized the United States for what it describes as “bullying” tactics toward Venezuela, following President Donald Trump’s recent order for a comprehensive blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of the South American nation.
In a phone conversation on Wednesday, Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, informed Venezuela’s foreign minister, Yvan Gil, that Beijing opposes all forms of unilateralism and bullying and supports all countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity. He added that China believes the international community understands and supports Venezuela’s position of safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests.
The message from the Chinese foreign ministry followed Trump’s announcement late Tuesday of the blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers. The U.S. president stated that American military forces would remain in place until Venezuela returns “all of the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us.”
Tensions between Washington and Caracas escalated after the U.S. military seized a Venezuelan oil tanker on December 11, marking an intensification of the ongoing crisis in the resource-rich country.
Trump’s campaign has involved over two dozen strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in at least 90 reported deaths. Trump has defended these operations as vital to American national security, alleging that the Venezuelan government is using maritime routes to smuggle drugs into the United States. However, Washington has not released evidence to back its claims that the individuals killed were, as described by the administration, “narco-terrorists.”
Venezuela’s government has accused Trump of violating international law, free trade principles, and the right of free navigation, denouncing the blockade as a “reckless and grave threat.” U.S. authorities have also imposed further sanctions against a range of oil tankers, shipping companies, and associates of President Nicolas Maduro.
