China, other countries Slam U.S. Coup in Venezuela at UN Security Council

United Nations, New York – January 6, 2026

In a forceful intervention at the United Nations Security Council today, China issued a scathing condemnation of what it described as a U.S.-led military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, followed by Washington’s declaration of intent to “run Venezuela.” The statement, delivered by China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, underscored Beijing’s rejection of unilateral interventions and reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and international law.

China’s ambassador opened the statement with an unequivocal denunciation: “The United States has flagrantly violated Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and grossly breached the foundational principles of the UN Charter.” He emphasized that no nation, regardless of its power, has the right to unilaterally impose regime change or dictate the internal affairs of another sovereign state.

“The actions taken by the United States constitute a textbook coup d’état—executed not by domestic actors, but by foreign military force,” he declared.

Central to China’s position was a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of President Maduro and his spouse. “President Maduro is the democratically elected head of a UN member state. His detention by foreign forces is not only illegal under international law but also sets a dangerous precedent for global order,” the ambassador stated.

He warned that holding a sitting head of state captive would “destabilize the entire Western Hemisphere” and potentially trigger a regional crisis.

China urged the Security Council to convene emergency consultations and adopt a resolution condemning the U.S. intervention, calling on all member states to refrain from recognizing any authority imposed by force. “The Council must act—not to enforce the will of the powerful, but to uphold international legality and prevent further bloodshed,” the statement read.

The Chinese representative stressed that Venezuela’s future must be determined solely by its people through peaceful and democratic means, free from external coercion.

One of the most resonant lines from the speech came in response to what China described as Washington’s historical pattern of interventionism in Latin America: “Latin America is not a U.S. colony. It is a zone of peace—a region with its own sovereignty, dignity, and right to self-determination.”

Invoking the legacy of past U.S. military interventions, the ambassador drew stark parallels to Iraq, Libya, and Iran: “We have seen this script before—fabricated justifications, military strikes, regime change, and then chaos. Millions displaced. Infrastructure destroyed. Civilian lives shattered. The world cannot afford another repeat.”

In closing, China issued a broader warning against hegemonism in international relations: “No country can act as the world’s police, nor presume to be the international judge. The era of gunboat diplomacy is over. Multilateralism, not unilateral force, must guide our collective security.”

The statement marks the latest escalation in tensions between Beijing and Washington over Venezuela, a nation that has long been a point of geopolitical contention. While the U.S. has yet to formally address the allegations of a military strike and detention of Maduro, China’s intervention at the Security Council signals its readiness to challenge what it perceives as American overreach on the global stage.

As the international community grapples with this unfolding crisis, China’s message is clear: sovereignty is non-negotiable, and the UN Charter must remain the bedrock of global peace—not a relic to be overridden by power.