Chinese President Xi Jinping has delivered a sharp but carefully worded rebuke to the United States following Washington’s dramatic intervention in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, an episode that has sent ripples through global geopolitics.
Speaking during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Xi warned that “unilateral and bullying actions” by major powers are seriously undermining the international order. Though he did not name the US directly, the timing and context left little doubt that Beijing was reacting to what it sees as America’s sudden power grab in Venezuela.
“The world today is undergoing changes and turbulence not seen in a century,” Xi said, according to Chinese state media. He stressed that all nations must respect the development paths chosen by their people and abide by international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. Major powers, he added, should take the lead in setting this example.
China has been one of Venezuela’s closest allies for more than two decades and is its largest oil buyer despite US sanctions. Beijing has invested heavily in the Latin American nation, extending tens of billions of dollars in oil-backed loans and building a strategic partnership rooted in energy cooperation and shared opposition to Western influence in the region.
Following Maduro’s capture, China strongly condemned the US action, calling it a “blatant use of force against a sovereign state” and a clear violation of international law. Beijing also demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, saying it was “deeply shocked” by the events.
The fall of the Maduro government is widely seen as a major setback for China’s interests in Venezuela, ties that date back to the era of former president Hugo Chávez. Analysts say Xi’s remarks signal Beijing’s concern that similar interventions could threaten its overseas partnerships and challenge the global balance of power.
As tensions rise, China’s message is clear: respect sovereignty, reject coercion, and rein in great-power dominance before global instability deepens further.
