China’s top diplomat said the move tested Beijing’s long-standing argument that global crises should be resolved through diplomacy rather than unilateral military force, as China later confronted the United States at the United Nations over the legality of the operation.
China follows a policy of non-intervention and routinely criticizes military actions carried out without approval from the UN Security Council.
“We have never believed that any country can act as the world’s police, nor do we accept that any nation can claim to be the world’s judge,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Pakistani counterpart during talks in Beijing on Sunday.
Wang referred to “sudden developments in Venezuela” without naming the United States.
“The sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law,” Wang added.
The comments marked his first public response since images of the 63-year-old Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed emerged on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Maduro pleaded not guilty to narcotics charges in a New York court on Monday.
Just blocks away, the UN Security Council met at Colombia’s request, backed by China and Russia, to debate US President Donald Trump’s decision to seize Maduro.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned the move could set “a dangerous precedent.”
Addressing the council, China said it was shocked and condemned the actions of the United States, which, like China, is one of the body’s five permanent members.
“The lessons of history offer a stark warning,” said Sun Lei, the charge d’affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
“Military means are not the solution to problems, and the indiscriminate use of force will only lead to greater crises,” Sun said.