Unilateral and bullying actions: Xi Jinping takes dig at US after capture of Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro
China, Venezuela's largest oil buyer, has repeatedly said Caracas has the right to pursue economic cooperation with other countries without external pressure. Beijing had earlier demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife and said it was "deeply shocked" by what it described as the US's blatant use of force against a sovereign state.
New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on major powers to take the lead in respecting the development paths chosen by other nations, in a veiled swipe at the United States following Washington's military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president Nicolas Maduro.
Xi made the remarks while meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, adding to Beijing's earlier criticism of the US operation against Venezuela.
"The world today is undergoing changes and turbulence not seen in a century, with unilateral and bullying actions severely undermining the international order," Xi said, according to Xinhua news agency.
China is Venezuela's largest oil buyer
"All countries should respect the development paths independently chosen by the peoples of other nations, abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and major powers, in particular, should take the lead in doing so," he added.
China, Venezuela's largest oil buyer, has repeatedly said Caracas has the right to pursue economic cooperation with other countries without external pressure. Beijing had earlier demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife and said it was "deeply shocked" by what it described as the US's blatant use of force against a sovereign state.
"The move is in clear violation of international law, basic norms governing international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," China's foreign ministry had said in a statement.
Capture of Maduro a major setback for Beijing
The capture of Maduro is widely seen as a setback for Beijing, which has maintained close strategic ties with Venezuela since the era of former president Hugo Chavez. Over the past two decades, China has emerged as a major investor, lender and energy partner to Caracas, extending billions of dollars in oil-backed loans despite US sanctions.
In a daring operation, the US Army's Delta Force in a pre-dawn strike in Caracas captured Maduro and his wife. The couple was taken to US where they face charges related to narco-terrorism among others.