UNITED NATIONS — China has issued a blistering rebuke of the United States at the UN Security Council, labeling the military capture of Nicolás Maduro a “blatant violation of international law” and a threat to global stability. During an emergency meeting on Monday, Chinese envoy Sun Lei demanded the immediate release of the deposed Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores.
A Violation of Sovereign Equality
In a strongly worded address, Sun Lei, Charge d’Affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN, stated that Beijing is “deeply shocked” by the unilateral actions of the Trump administration. China argues that the United States has disregarded the fundamental principles of the US violation UN Charter 2026, specifically the prohibition against the use of force against the territorial integrity of a sovereign state.
“No country can act as the world’s police, nor can any country presume to be the international judge,” Sun Lei told the 15-member council. The Sun Lei Maduro statement emphasized that the capture was not a “law enforcement operation,” as claimed by Washington, but an act of “bullying” that undermines the cornerstone of multilateralism.
Warnings of a Regional Crisis
Beijing warned that the U.S. strategy of “toppling governments” repeats the historical failures seen in Iraq and Libya. China maintains that Latin America is a Zone of Peace and should not be treated as a “U.S. colony.” The envoy expressed grave concern over President Trump’s stated intent to “run” Venezuela, suggesting that such rhetoric signals a return to an era of unchecked interventionism.
The China UN Security Council Venezuela intervention highlights the growing geopolitical rift between the two superpowers. While the U.S. justifies the raid as a necessary strike against a “narco-terrorist,” China views it as a dangerous precedent that could destabilize the entire Western Hemisphere and jeopardize global energy security.
Calls for Immediate Restitution
China joined Russia and Colombia in calling for the Security Council to act to restore legality. Beijing’s official position remains that the internal affairs of Venezuela must be decided by its own people through dialogue, rather than external military force. As part of the Operation Absolute Resolve China reaction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing has also called for the personal safety of the Maduro family to be guaranteed while they remain in U.S. custody
