Photo: Lintao Zhang/Pool/Getty Images.

China has demanded the US to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Celia Flores. China says that America should abandon any kind of coercion or military action and find a solution to the problem only through dialogue and negotiation.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement that the US forcibly arresting President Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country is a flagrant violation of international law, the basic rules of international relations and the UN Charter. China also asked the US to take full responsibility for the security of the Maduro couple and release them without any delay.

had condemned even a day before

China on Saturday also strongly condemned the US air strikes on Venezuela and the arrest of Maduro. China Called it America’s domineering move and misuse of power. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says that this US action is a direct attack on Venezuela’s sovereignty and could threaten peace and security in the entire Latin America and the Caribbean region.

China clearly said that it strongly opposes this attitude of America. China appealed to America to follow the rules of international law and the UN Charter and stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

What are the reasons for China’s tough stance?

The fall of Maduro government and his arrest is being considered a big blow to China. Relations between China and Venezuela are several decades old. This friendship was further strengthened during the era of former President Hugo Chavez. Over the last 20 years, the partnership between the two countries has been based on political support, energy cooperation and opposing the influence of America and Western countries.

Despite US sanctions, China has been buying oil from Venezuela on a large scale. China is also a major investor and lender to Venezuela. China has given billions of dollars of assistance to Venezuela under loan in exchange for oil. For this reason, China is considering America’s action as an attack on its strategic interests and is openly protesting.