BEIJING, Jan 6 (Reuters) : China’s top diplomat accused the U.S. of acting like a “world judge” by seizing Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro to put him on trial in New York, with Beijing later confronting Washington at the United Nations over the move’s legality.
China follows a policy of non-intervention and routinely criticises military activity conducted without the UN Security Council’s approval.
The U.S. military’s removal of the leader of one of China’s “all-weather” strategic partners from his capital in the dead of night will be a litmus test of Beijing’s assertion that it can play a role in resolving global hotspot issues without following Washington down the military route.
“We have never believed that any country can act as the world’s police, nor do we accept that any nation can claim to be the world’s judge,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Pakistani counterpart during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday, referring to “sudden developments in Venezuela” without directly mentioning the United States.
“The sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law,” Wang added, in his first remarks since images of the 63-year-old Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed on Saturday stunned the world.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to narcotics charges in a New York court on Monday. Just blocks away, the UN Security Council convened at Colombia’s request – backed by China and Russia – to debate U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to seize him, a move UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned could set “a dangerous precedent.”
Addressing the meeting, China expressed its shock and condemnation at the actions of the U.S., which, like China, is one of the council’s five permanent members.
“The lessons of history offer a stark warning,” said Sun Lei, the charge d’affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. “Military means are not the solution to problems, and the indiscriminate use of force will only lead to greater crises.”
Analysts said China, the world’s second-largest economy and a leading global trading partner, would be crucial in marshalling criticism of Washington’s actions.
“There isn’t much in the way of material support that China can offer Venezuela at this time, but rhetorically, Beijing will be very important when it leads the effort at the UN and with other developing countries to rally opinion against the U.S.,” said Eric Olander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project.
