Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning answered a media question on Jan. 7 about the U.S. demand for Venezuela to stop relations with Russia, China. Iran and Cuba, and give over control of its oil to the U.S. She responded: “Venezuela is a sovereign state and has full permanent sovereignty over all its natural resources and economic activities. The U.S. blatantly used force against Venezuela and asked the country to `favor’ America with regard to its oil reserves. Such bullying seriously breaches international law, infringes on Venezuela’s sovereignty, and violates the rights of the Venezuelan people. China strongly condemns this. Let me stress that the lawful rights and interests of China and other countries in Venezuela must be protected.”
Caracas-based Telesur asked what China would do to protect its interests in the oil sector in Venezuela, given Trump’s claim that he will rule the country and control the oil. Mao Ning responded: “The U.S. has long imposed illicit unilateral sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry and blatantly used force against Venezuela recently. This has dealt a severe blow to the economic and social order in Venezuela and threatens the stability of global industrial and supply chains. China has strongly condemned this. Let me stress that the cooperation between China and Venezuela is cooperation between sovereign states and protected by international law and the laws of the two countries.”
