The United States will assume temporary oversight of Venezuela during a transitional period and move to restore oil production, President Donald Trump announced at a press briefing.
Nicolas Maduro, together with his spouse, arrived in New York on Saturday before being transferred to a New York City detention facility later that evening. Maduro is scheduled to be tried on federal charges, including drug trafficking and alleged collaboration with groups labeled as terrorist organizations. Maduro has rejected all allegations.
In response, China issued a firm statement, urging the immediate release of Maduro and his wife. The Chinese foreign ministry called on the U.S. to guarantee the safety of the detained Venezuelan leader, emphasizing that the U.S. should “cease efforts to overthrow the Venezuelan government.”
The Chinese government characterized the U.S. operation resulting in Maduro’s detention as a “clear violation of international law.” The foreign ministry described the intervention as an “act of hegemony” that infringes upon Venezuela’s sovereignty and threatens broader regional stability in Latin America and the Caribbean. Beijing expressed profound shock over what it says was the use of military force and stated strong opposition to Washington’s actions.
China, Venezuela’s principal oil customer, joins a consortium of nations—including Brazil, Russia, Colombia, Mexico, and Cuba—that have condemned the U.S. military involvement. Before the recent military strike, Beijing had publicly aligned itself with Maduro’s administration amid escalating U.S. pressure.
The legal legitimacy of the U.S. operation remains contested. According to The Guardian, several international law experts have suggested that Washington’s move probably contravened the United Nations Charter, signed in 1945. Article 2(4) of the Charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and underscores the principle of sovereignty.
