During a regular press briefing on Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry denounced “external interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs” and urged the United States to prioritize “normal law enforcement” instead of military action to combat organized drug trafficking in the Caribbean.
While China has no direct geographic involvement in the drug trafficking issues affecting the Western Hemisphere, the Chinese Communist Party has consistently shown disapproval of efforts to limit the flow of illegal substances into the U.S. They have particularly defended Venezuela’s controversial socialist government. The Trump administration plans to formally designate the Sunshine Cartel as a foreign terrorist organization by November 24. Leaders such as Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello are viewed as key figures within this cartel, with bounties of $15 million and $10 million on their heads, respectively.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in July, “Mr. Maduro is not the president of Venezuela, and his government lacks legitimacy.” He described Maduro as “the head of state” for the Cartel de los Soles, a narcotics organization that has effectively taken control of the country while being implicated in drug smuggling to the U.S.
However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning chose not to address the criminal operations of the Sunshine Cartel and similar groups in the region. Instead, she criticized U.S. efforts aimed at safeguarding American citizens and their neighbors from such organized crime.
“China is against any actions that go against the principles of the United Nations Charter, infringe on the sovereignty and security of other nations, or interfere in Venezuela’s internal matters under any pretext,” Mao articulated in response to inquiries about Operation Southern Spear, a Department of Defense initiative targeting drug-related crime in the Caribbean.
“We hope that the United States will focus on normal law enforcement and judicial collaboration through bilateral and multilateral legal structures and follow a path that promotes peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean,” she added, according to translations provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth mentioned that last week’s Operation Southern Spear, first announced shortly after President Trump’s second inauguration, indicates a commitment to enhancing robotic systems in identifying and surveilling illicit trade activities.
In recent months, the Navy has increased its efforts to identify and target drug-trafficking vessels, collaborating with partner nations to protect their populations from drug-related crimes. Recently, the Dominican Republic reported a joint operation with the U.S., where 806 packages of suspected cocaine were intercepted.
As part of this operation, President Trump will deploy the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the U.S. fleet, to the Caribbean this month.
“Over 4,000 sailors and numerous tactical aircraft are aboard,” U.S. Southern Command explained. “This first-in-class carrier enhances our ability to project power through extended operations at sea, capable of concurrently launching and recovering aircraft during day or night missions.”
Beijing has remained steadfast in its opposition to challenges against Maduro’s regime, which has maintained its hold on power amid a decade of questionable elections and violence against opponents. In August, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mao Zedong voiced similar criticisms of U.S. law enforcement efforts, saying, “We reject the use of force in international relations and any external interference in Venezuela’s internal issues, regardless of justification.”
“I anticipate the United States will contribute to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean,” she claimed.
China also sent Ambassador Lan Fu to meet President Maduro directly, signaling solidarity with the Communist Party. Maduro characterized their discussion as an opportunity to recognize “remarkable progress” in various bilateral aspects including “economy, science, technology, and artificial intelligence.”
Earlier in November, Mao reiterated that U.S. self-defense operations targeting Venezuela’s drug regime were “excessive” and infringed upon Venezuela’s sovereignty.
“China clearly opposes the U.S. forceful approach to combat alleged drug cartels in the Caribbean,” she stated, advocating “cooperative measures to combat transnational crimes through enhanced international collaboration.”
The Chinese government opposes actions that threaten peace and stability in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, denouncing unilateral enforcement against vessels from other nations.
