China accused the United States on Monday of violating international law by seizing oil tankers off Venezuela, as Washington intensified pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government and a senior US official openly suggested that he should be removed from power.
At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the United States “seriously violated international law” by intercepting foreign vessels and reiterated China’s opposition to unilateral sanctions and coercive measures.
“The US practice of arbitrarily seizing other countries’ vessels seriously violates international law,” Lin said. China, he added, opposed actions that “infringe upon other countries’ sovereignty and security” and opposed “all acts of unilateralism and bullying”.
The remarks followed confirmation from Washington officials that the US Coast Guard seized an oil tanker early on Saturday local time and that US forces were pursuing another vessel, part of what the Trump administration described as a blockade of “sanctioned oil vessels” entering or leaving Venezuela.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said the seized tanker was “operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil”.
China rejected the justification and repeated its position that Venezuela’s oil trade with other countries should not be targeted.
“Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries,” Lin said, adding that China believed Venezuela’s defence of its “legitimate rights and interests” had “the understanding and support of the international community”.
The Chinese statement came hours before President Donald Trump defended the seizures during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, saying Washington would retain the oil taken from Venezuelan tankers.
Trump suggested the cargo could be added to the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve and added that Washington also intended to keep the vessels involved.
The US president also confirmed that US forces were actively pursuing another sanctioned tanker, describing it as having originated in Venezuela in violation of sanctions and saying American authorities expected to eventually seize the vessel. He linked the seizures to broader pressure on Maduro’s government.
“If he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough,” Trump threatened, adding that it would be “smart” for Maduro to step aside but that “it’s up to him what he wants to do”.
Also on Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Washington’s actions were aimed at directly pressuring Maduro, in one of the clearest public signals yet that the US was seeking a leadership change in Caracas.
“We’re not just interdicting these ships, but we’re also sending a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro’s taking part in cannot stand,” Noem told Fox News. “He needs to be gone.”
Her comments followed President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier this month of a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers sailing to and from Venezuela. US forces seized two vessels and pursued a third, according to US officials.
The maritime campaign unfolded alongside a significant US military build-up in the Caribbean. Washington increased its naval presence and intensified patrols near Venezuela’s coast, describing the deployments as part of an anti-narcotics and maritime security effort.
US forces also carried out strikes against vessels accused of drug trafficking, though the White House did not publicly release evidence showing the targeted boats carried narcotics. International law experts have been questioning the legality of the strikes and interdictions.
Caracas responded by tightening security around its oil exports. Last week, Maduro ordered military escorts for Venezuelan oil tankers after the seizure of a vessel carrying Venezuelan crude. Two large tankers are prepared to sail to China under naval protection, according to sources cited by Reuters.
China is Venezuela’s largest oil buyer, with Venezuelan crude often shipped through intermediaries and on older tankers, often with opaque ownership structures. Analysts estimated December shipments at more than 600,000 barrels a day.
Venezuela also moved the dispute to the United Nations. The government requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to address the US blockade, a request China publicly supported.
On Wednesday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for restraint after speaking with Maduro, urging countries to respect international law, including the UN Charter, and to avoid further escalation, according to a UN statement.
The Security Council meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday, as US maritime operations linked to the blockade continued and Venezuela maintained military escorts for oil tankers. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
