China “Strongly Condemns” US Military Strike on Venezuela

The People’s Republic of China has issued a fierce condemnation of the United States’ military operation in Venezuela, joining a growing bloc of nations denouncing the capture of President Nicolás Maduro as a dangerous violation of international norms. In a statement released shortly after news of the “Operation Southern Spear” raid broke, Beijing “strongly condemned” the attack, characterizing the extraterritorial extraction of a sitting head of state as an unacceptable breach of sovereignty.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s response highlights the deepening geopolitical chasm between Washington and the Global South. As a key economic and political ally of the Maduro government, China views the U.S. intervention not merely as a law enforcement action, but as a brazen act of “hegemonism” designed to topple a sovereign government through force. “The removal of a national leader by foreign military means violates the basic norms governing international relations and the Charter of the United Nations,” the statement implied, echoing similar sentiments from Paris.
Beijing’s sharp rebuke is likely fueled by concerns over the precedent this operation sets. By validating the use of military force to execute domestic arrest warrants against foreign leaders, the U.S. has crossed a red line that China—and other adversaries like Russia and Iran—fear could be weaponized against their own interests. The condemnation also serves as a diplomatic signal to the developing world, positioning China as the defender of national sovereignty against American unilateralism.
Analysts predict that China may move to challenge the legitimacy of the U.S. action at the United Nations Security Council, potentially rallying other nations to demand Maduro’s immediate release. With Chinese investments in Venezuela’s energy and infrastructure sectors now in limbo under impending U.S. management, the condemnation is as much about protecting economic assets as it is about upholding diplomatic principles.