China delivered a strongly worded message to the United States on Monday at an “emergency” meeting of the UN Security Council, calling on Washington to abide by international law, end its illusion that it is the world’s police force and court, and immediately release Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
The remarks by Sun Lei, deputy permanent representative of China to the UN, came some 60 hours after the couple was seized in an audacious midnight raid on Saturday at their compound in Caracas and whisked to New York to stand trial on drug and weapons charges.
“China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the unilateral, illegal and bullying acts by the United States,” Sun said. “As a permanent member of the Council, the US has disregarded the grave concerns of the international community, wantonly trampled upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, security and legitimate rights and interests and seriously violated the principles of sovereign equality.”
He added that Washington has also run roughshod over numerous other global norms, including non-interference in internal affairs, the peaceful settlement of international disputes and the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.
Washington’s UN representative Mike Waltz countered that the US conducted a law enforcement action that did not merit diplomatic oversight, that Maduro was not a legitimate head of state and that his repression and illegal activities have long been recognised.
“This administration, President Trump, will not stand for it,” said Waltz, wearing an American flag lapel pin. “The United States will not waver in our actions to protect Americans from the scourge of narcoterrorism and seeks peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela.”
Sun, who spoke shortly before Waltz, said the international community has long called on Washington to abide by the UN Charter and follow international law, maintain restraint, resolve disputes peacefully and safeguard regional stability – all to little effect.
“The US has placed its own power above multilateralism and military action above diplomatic efforts, posing a great threat to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean and even internationally,” the senior Chinese diplomat said. “China firmly opposes this, and the international community has also expressed widespread grave concerns and strong condemnation.”
Sun added that Washington should “stop toppling” the government of Venezuela, embrace “political solutions”, and “ensure the personal safety of President Maduro and his wife, and to release them at once”.
“Venezuela is an independent, sovereign state with every right to defend its authority and national dignity,” he said. “No country can act as the world’s police, nor can any state presume to be the international judge.”
Waltz said Maduro had been offered several chances to step down. But as he read his speech, he otherwise provided few new arguments over those voiced repeatedly by US President Donald Trump and members of his administration in recent days and weeks.
The 15-member Council met at UN headquarters in New York just hours before Maduro was scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court on charges that included narco-terrorism conspiracy. Maduro has denied any criminal involvement.
“There is no war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying a country. This was a law enforcement operation in furtherance of lawful indictments that existed for decades,” Waltz said. “The overwhelming evidence of his crimes will be presented openly in US court proceedings. He is not just an indicted drug trafficker. He was an illegitimate so-called president. He was not a head of state.”
Moscow joined its ally Beijing in condemning Saturday’s US raid as Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya accused Washington of “international banditry” that spread chaos and lawlessness.
“There is and can be no justification for the crimes perpetuated by the US in Caracas,” said Nebenzya. “We are particularly appalled by the unparalleled cynicism ... Washington did not even attempt to conceal the true aims of its corroboration, namely, this establishment of unbridled control over Venezuela’s natural resources.”
In a prepared statement read to the chamber, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced apprehension that the US raid could fuel more problems in Venezuela.
“I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted,” Guterres said.
The emergency session was requested by Colombia, an ally of Venezuela, and supported by China and Russia. In addition to echoing others in calling for Washington to uphold basic principles of sovereignty and solve problems through dialogue, Colombia’s Permanent UN Representative Leonor Zalabata Torres said the world must prioritise the welfare of the Venezuelan people.
“The civilian population is always the one who pays the highest price,” she added. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
