China has called on the United States to immediately release Nicolás Maduro, strongly condemning the U.S. military operation that led to his capture and arguing that it violated international law.
In a statement, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the American operation to detain the Venezuelan president breached international legal norms, adding that Beijing maintains consistent and constructive communication and cooperation with the Venezuelan government, according to Sky News.
The statement comes amid revelations that just hours before his capture, Maduro had been meeting a Chinese delegation in Caracas, led by Qiu Xiaoqi, China’s special representative for Latin American affairs. Video footage from the meeting showed Maduro and Chinese officials smiling together, apparently unaware of the imminent U.S. operation.
China has recently deepened its economic support for Venezuela, providing what officials describe as “economic lifeline assistance” following U.S. and allied sanctions imposed in 2017.
As part of that support, China purchased Venezuelan goods worth nearly €1.4 billion in 2024, reinforcing its position as one of Venezuela’s key strategic and economic partners.
China’s demand adds to growing international pressure on Washington, as global powers react to the escalating geopolitical fallout from Maduro’s detention.
