China condemns US seizures of ships in Caribbean, backs Venezuela

The Chinese government has issued a strong rebuke of United States military operations in the Caribbean Sea, denouncing the recent seizures of commercial vessels as illegal and an act of unilateral bullying. In a statement on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian accused Washington of "arbitrarily seizing other countries’ vessels," a practice he said "grossly violates international law" and infringes upon national sovereignty.

A Broader Critique of US Sanctions and Enforcement

Lin's remarks framed the ship interdictions as part of a pattern of objectionable US behavior. "China opposes unilateral, illicit sanctions that have no basis in international law or have no authorization of the United Nations Security Council," he stated. The spokesperson explicitly rejected "all acts of unilateralism and bullying," positioning Beijing as a defender of the multilateral UN Charter system against what it perceives as American overreach. The criticism comes amid reports that US Coast Guard and naval forces are pursuing a third vessel, the Panamanian-flagged tanker Bella 1, following the seizure of the Centuries on Saturday and the Skipper on December 10.

Explicit Diplomatic Support for Venezuela

The Chinese statement included direct support for Venezuela, the primary target of the US maritime enforcement campaign. "Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries," Lin said, adding that Beijing believes "the international community can understand and support Venezuela’s stance of defending its own rights." This public backing aligns China with Caracas in the escalating standoff, which Venezuelan officials have condemned as "international piracy." The US maintains its actions are aimed at combating drug trafficking and enforcing sanctions.

Geopolitical Context of a Spat with Global Implications

The diplomatic salvo from Beijing highlights how a regional confrontation in the Caribbean is drawing in global powers. China, a major economic and diplomatic partner of Venezuela through loans and oil deals, is leveraging the crisis to challenge US authority and champion an alternative vision of international order based on strict sovereignty and UN centrality. The statement signals that US pressure on Venezuela will face not only regional resistance but also concerted opposition from one of Washington's principal strategic competitors.