China’s foreign ministry has issued a strong condemnation of the United States military operation in Venezuela, characterizing it as hegemonic behavior that threatens peace and security throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The Saturday strikes that captured President Nicolás Maduro have drawn particularly sharp criticism from Beijing, which views the action as part of broader American unilateralism.
The Chinese statement expressed deep shock at the use of force against a sovereign country and its president, urging the United States to abide by international law and the UN Charter. The ministry emphasized that such violations of sovereignty and security undermine the foundations of peaceful international relations and create dangerous precedents for future conflicts.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face drug trafficking charges in New York, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming the charges relate to narcotics operations. President Trump stated the couple is currently aboard a ship being transported to the United States for prosecution.
The international community has responded with widespread criticism, with UN Secretary General António Guterres warning of dangerous precedents for international relations. Russia has joined China in condemning the operation and demanding the immediate release of the captured leaders, while European nations have called for respect of international legal norms.
Latin American responses have split along ideological lines, with conservative governments like Argentina offering support while leftist administrations including Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile condemned the intervention. Colombia has mobilized its armed forces due to concerns about refugee flows, and analysts question whether external military force can successfully transform Venezuelan politics or will simply perpetuate instability in a region with a long history of foreign interventions.