China responds

(Trinidad Express) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the People’s Republic of China has responded to US military strikes within Venezuela overnight, condemning the US action and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

A response posted to its website moments ago noted deep shock and concern in the aftermath of Trump’s announcement this morning that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores had been captured, and that a ‘large scale’ strike had been carried out.

“China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president. Such hegemonic acts of the U.S. 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 Ministry stated.

China, which currently has one of the world’s largest military by personnel, has historically aligned itself with Venezuela, as a long standing partner in energy, trade and development within the region.