'Stop toppling Venezuela government': China demands release of Maduro, his wife; calls it breach of international law

China on Sunday demanded the release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife after they were captured by US forces in a “large-scale strike.” Condemning Washington’s actions, China urged the US to "stop toppling the government of Venezuela" and pursue dialogue instead.

“China expresses grave concern over the US forcibly seizing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country”, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.


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It added that the move clearly violates international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Calling for immediate action, the ministry said, “China calls on the US to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation."

The fall of the Maduro government and his capture by the US is regarded as a major setback for Beijing, which has shared close strategic ties with Venezuela since the time of Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez. Over the past two decades, China’s partnership with Venezuela has been built on political alignment, energy cooperation, and shared opposition to US and Western influence in Latin America.

During this period, China became a major buyer of Venezuelan oil despite US sanctions. It is also Venezuela's major investor and lender, extending tens of billions of dollars in oil-backed loans.

Earlier on Saturday, reacting to a question on US President Donald Trump's announcement about the airstrikes and the capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said China was deeply shocked by the developments. The ministry described the US action as a hegemonic act that violated Venezuela’s sovereignty and threatened regional peace.

China said it firmly opposed what it called the US' blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its President. Such acts, the ministry said, seriously violate international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region.

"China firmly opposes it. We call on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries' sovereignty and security," the statement said.