China Condemns U.S. Military Strikes on Venezuela at UN Security Council Emergency Meeting
United Nations, Jan. 5, 2026 — China has strongly condemned the United States for launching large-scale military strikes against Venezuela, calling the action a serious violation of international law and a grave threat to regional and global peace.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Sun Lei, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN, said Beijing was “deeply shocked” by what it described as unilateral, illegal, and coercive actions carried out by Washington.
According to Ambassador Sun, the United States on January 3 carried out extensive military operations against Venezuela, forcibly seized President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and removed them from the country. He said the U.S. further claimed it would “run” Venezuela and did not rule out launching a second, even larger, round of military operations.
China expressed full support for the Security Council’s decision to convene the emergency session and thanked UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for conveying a briefing from Secretary-General António Guterres. Ambassador Sun noted that the international community had repeatedly raised grave concerns over U.S. sanctions, blockades, and threats of force against Venezuela, and that previous Council meetings had called for restraint, dialogue, and strict adherence to the UN Charter.
However, China accused the United States—despite being a permanent member of the Council—of disregarding these calls and “wantonly trampling” on Venezuela’s sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests. Ambassador Sun said the actions violated core principles of the UN Charter, including sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes, and the prohibition of the use of force.
He warned that placing military action above diplomacy posed a serious danger to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean, and even internationally. China urged the United States to heed the “overwhelming voice of the international community,” cease infringing on other countries’ sovereignty, stop attempts to topple the Venezuelan government, and return to political solutions through dialogue and negotiations.
China also called on the United States to ensure the personal safety of President Maduro and his wife and to release them immediately.
Drawing lessons from history, Ambassador Sun said military means have repeatedly failed to bring peace or stability, citing past U.S. actions in the Middle East and Latin America that resulted in prolonged conflict, instability, and suffering for civilians. He stressed that Venezuela, as an independent sovereign state, has the right to defend its sovereignty and national dignity.
China reaffirmed its support for the Government and people of Venezuela in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests and backed regional efforts to uphold Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace. Beijing called on Washington to abandon what it described as bullying and coercive practices and to engage with regional countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and non-interference.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Sun said China stands ready to work with regional countries and the wider international community to strengthen solidarity, uphold fairness and justice, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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