Chinese Foreign Ministry: "US Must Immediately Release President Maduro"

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that the United States immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured and extradited by the US.

On January 4, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "China expresses serious concern over the US's forced detention and deportation of President Maduro and his wife," adding, "The personal safety of President Maduro and his wife must be guaranteed, and they must be released immediately."

US President Donald Trump is monitoring the progress of the 'Resolute Determination' operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro together with his aides on the 3rd (local time).

The Ministry further emphasized, "Such actions are a clear violation of international law, the basic norms of international relations, and the purposes and principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter," and urged, "The United States must halt all attempts to overthrow the Venezuelan government and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation."

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also strongly condemned the US attack on Venezuela and the ousting of President Maduro the previous day, calling for an immediate halt to such actions.

The Ministry said the previous day, "We are deeply shocked that the United States has used force against a sovereign nation and attacked the president of a country," stressing, "Such hegemonic actions by the United States constitute a serious violation of international law, infringe upon Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten the peace and stability of the Latin American and Caribbean regions."

Chinese experts have criticized the latest US military operation as a declaration of the revival of the 'Monroe Doctrine.'

The Global Times, an English-language newspaper affiliated with the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, reported on this day that international condemnation is pouring in regarding the US attack on Venezuela and the arrest of President Maduro, and conveyed these expert opinions.

Lu Xiang, a US affairs expert and researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times, "It is highly unusual and reckless to capture a sitting head of state in this manner," analyzing that "this declares the revival of a new Monroe Doctrine and asserts US hegemony in the Western Hemisphere."

The Monroe Doctrine is a diplomatic policy announced in 1823 by US President James Monroe, which is centered on excluding European intervention in the Americas and promoting isolationism.