China Reacts to Maduro's Capture with Diplomatic Demands

BEIJING – China has strongly condemned the U.S. capture of Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro, stating that it is a violation of international law and a threat to peace and security in Latin America.

“China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the U.S.’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its attack on its president,” Beijing’s Foreign Ministry commented.

Beijing subsequently called on Washington to release the deposed leader and his wife, urging the US to resolve the matter through diplomatic efforts.

Chinese Government's Reaction

Lin Jian, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said on Monday at a press conference that China maintains “positive communication and cooperation” with the Venezuelan government. Jian assured that Beijing’s willingness to further relations with Venezuela would not be affected by the current situation.

Jian additionally affirmed that Chinese interests in Venezuela would be protected under the law.

On Monday, Chinese Leader Xi Jinping seemingly referenced the events of Maduro’s capture by stating that “unilateral bullying seriously impacts the international order.”

“All countries should respect the development path independently chosen by other peoples, abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and major countries should take the lead,” he said during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Beijing.

The operation that transpired over the weekend came as a shock to the Chinese government. On Friday afternoon, hours before the U.S strikes and capture of Maduro, a special envoy for Xi was in Venezuela’s presidential palace.

Chinese companies, mostly state-owned, have invested $4.8 billion in Venezuela over the last two decades, according to data gathered by the U.S.-based research firm Rhodium Group.

In August, China Concord Resources Corp., a privately owned company, announced plans to invest over $1 billion in a Venezuelan project, which aims for daily production of 60,000 barrels of crude oil by the end of 2026, according to Reuters.

Latin American countries may now feel pressured “to be more cautious in dealing with China on the economic front in the future,” Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, told NBC News in an interview.