China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the United States must immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after U.S. authorities arrested him on the 3rd (local time) and transferred him to New York.
On the 4th, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "China expresses serious concern over the United States' forcible detention and deportation of President Maduro and his spouse," adding, "Their personal safety must be ensured and they must be released immediately."
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Such actions clearly violate international law, the basic norms governing international relations, and the purposes and principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter," and "We urge the United States to halt all attempts to overthrow the Venezuelan government and to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation."
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said the previous day, "We are deeply shocked that the United States used force against a sovereign state and attacked a country's president," criticizing, "Such hegemonic behavior by the United States seriously violates international law, infringes on Venezuela's sovereignty, and threatens peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean."
Zhang Suxue, a Fudan University professor and expert on Latin American affairs, noted that the latest U.S. military action is part of an attempt by the United States to remove a "thorn in its side." Zhang said, "Venezuela has consistently opposed U.S. hegemony and provided oil to leftist countries such as Cuba, and the United States has long harbored resentment over this," adding, "Essentially, this is the culmination of a long-standing conflict between the United States and Venezuela."