China condemns U.S. military action against Venezuela at UN Security Council

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday strongly condemned the U.S. military action against Venezuela at a UN Security Council emergency meeting.

"China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the unilateral, illegal, and bullying acts by the United States," said Sun Lei, the charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Sun made the remarks at an emergency meeting of the Security Council following the U.S. assault on Venezuela.

"On Jan. 3, the United States blatantly launched large-scale military strikes against Venezuela, seized by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and took them out of the country. It claimed that it would 'run' Venezuela and even did not rule out launching a second round of military operations on an even larger scale," said Sun.

For some time now, the international community has repeatedly expressed grave concerns over the U.S. sanctions, blockade, and threats of force against Venezuela. However, as a permanent member of the Security Council, the United States has disregarded the grave concerns of the international community, wantonly trampled on Venezuela's sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests, and seriously violated the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and the prohibition of the use of force in international relations, he said.

"These principles constitute the fundamental tenets of the UN Charter and form the cornerstone of maintaining international peace and security. The United States has placed its own power above multilateralism, and military actions above diplomatic efforts, posing a grave threat to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean and even internationally. China firmly opposes this, and the international community has also expressed widespread grave concerns and strong condemnation," said Sun.

"We urge the United States to heed the overwhelming voice of the international community, abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, cease infringing on the sovereignty and security of other countries, stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and return to the path of political solutions through dialogue and negotiations," he said.

China calls on the United States to ensure the personal safety of President Maduro and his wife and to release them at once, he added.

"The lessons of history offer a stark warning. Military means are not the solution to problems, and the indiscriminate use of force will only lead to greater crises. The United States bypassed the Security Council to launch military operations against Iraq, blatantly attacked Iran's nuclear facilities, and imposed economic sanctions, military strikes, and even armed occupations against multiple countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. These actions have caused persistent conflicts, instability, and immense suffering for the ordinary people," he noted.

Venezuela is an independent sovereign state with every right to defend its sovereignty and national dignity. Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are important forces in maintaining world peace and stability and promoting global development and prosperity, and they have every right to independently choose their development paths and partners. No country can act as the world's police, nor can any country presume to be the international judge, he said.

China firmly supports the government and people of Venezuela in safeguarding their sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests. China firmly supports regional countries in upholding the status of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace. China demands the United States change its course, cease its bullying and coercive practices, and develop relations and cooperation with regional countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and non-interference in internal affairs, said Sun.

China stands ready to work with regional countries and the international community to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, uphold fairness and justice, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean, he said.