China Opposes External Interference in Venezuela
On Wednesday, Lin Jian, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated that China stands against any “external interference” in Venezuela’s matters, especially in light of escalating tensions with the United States.
Lin emphasized, “China opposes actions that breach the principles of the United Nations Charter or undermine the sovereignty and security of nations, and firmly opposes any external interference in Venezuela’s domestic affairs for any reason.” He called for all parties involved to keep Latin America and the Caribbean as a peaceful zone, preventing further escalation.
These comments were made during a press briefing where Lin responded to President Trump’s recent remarks regarding Venezuela’s airspace being effectively closed to airlines.
China has been a critical ally to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, offering various forms of assistance to his regime, especially as it has faced increasing pressure from U.S. sanctions. Reports suggest that Venezuela has been rerouting oil shipments, branding them under Malaysian labels to circumvent these restrictions and effectively disguise their destination as China.
In recent months, China has indeed supported Venezuela amid ongoing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, which aims to tackle drug trafficking in the area.
According to the Chinese Communist Party, these U.S. anti-drug operations are considered a form of “interference” in Venezuela’s affairs.
Support from China was also evident this week when Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil met with Chinese Ambassador Lan Hu in Caracas. Gil highlighted their discussion aimed at strengthening the strategic alliance between their nations.
During this meeting, there was a reaffirmation of mutual support for Venezuela’s sovereignty, as communicated by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This meeting sought to reinforce their cooperation and commitment to peace, as expressed by Gil.
CELAC, or the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, which excludes the U.S. and Canada, was established in 2011 to promote regional unity. The “Peace Zone” concept discussed by Wang and Lin stems from a 2014 declaration, promoting Latin America as a “territory of peace.” However, it’s worth noting that this declaration operates more as a political statement than a binding agreement.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s state television reported on an event at the Grand China-Venezuela Friendship Plaza, which emphasizes culturally significant interactions between the two nations. During this event, Ambassador Lan spoke of the close ties and cooperation between China and Venezuela, expressing a commitment to friendship and shared goals.
Venezuela has significant debts owed to China, amounting to billions since Hugo Chávez’s rule. Currently, the exact figures and conditions of these loans remain undisclosed, but reports indicate that Venezuela has the largest credit exposure to China, estimated at around $59.2 billion since 2005.
Jonathan Fortin, an economist, suggested that a change in Venezuela’s regime might not immediately improve relations with China, but it could provide an opportunity to reassess the debt situation.
He noted that past instances show China can be flexible to avoid disruptive defaults, but highlighted that much of the financial relationship hinges on oil shipments that serve as repayment over an extended period.
In this context, the dynamics of credit have shifted; it seems less about sovereign lending and more about real capital flows, with China’s direct investments growing within critical sectors such as infrastructure and energy.
