China on Sunday called on the United States to immediately release Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, following what Beijing described as their seizure.
In a statement issued in Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was “gravely concerned” by reports that Maduro and his wife were taken out of Venezuela by US authorities.
The ministry described the action as a “clear violation of international law,” international relations norms and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
“China expresses grave concern over the US forcibly seizing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country,” the statement said.
It added that China was calling on Washington to ensure the safety of Maduro and his wife and to release them without delay.
The ministry also urged the United States to stop actions aimed at destabilising Venezuela and to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation.
The United States has not publicly responded to China’s statement as of Tuesday.
There was no independent confirmation of the claims at the time of filing this report.
