'Unilateral bullying': China slams US over Maduro arrest; maintains no country can act as world ‘policeman’

Chinese Premier Xi Jinping on Monday criticised 'unilateral and bullying acts' in global affairs, urging major powers to respect international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

His remarks came after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested by US forces.Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Beijing, according to state-run Xinhua. His comments came amid mounting international reactions to Washington’s pre-dawn military operation in Venezuela over the weekend.“All countries should respect the development paths chosen by the peoples of other nations, and abide by international law, as well as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, with major countries taking the lead in doing so,” Xi said.Warning that the global order was under strain, the Chinese leader added, “In a world beset with changes and chaos, unilateral and bullying acts are severely undermining the international order.”China has strongly condemned the US action, with senior officials asserting that no country has the authority to act as the world’s “policeman” or an “international judge”.Earlier on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced Beijing’s opposition while speaking at the Seventh Round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.

“China always opposes the use or threat of force, as well as any imposition of one country’s will on another,” Wang said, noting that the international situation has become increasingly volatile and intertwined, with unilateral bullying “becoming increasingly severe”.Referring to the arrest of Maduro, Wang said, “The sudden change of situation in Venezuela has drawn high attention from the international community.”He stressed that global order cannot be dictated by any single power. “We never believe that any country can play the role of world policeman, nor do we agree that any country can claim itself to be an international judge,” Wang said.The Chinese foreign minister added that the sovereignty and security of all countries must be fully protected under international law. He said China would continue working with the international community, including Pakistan, to uphold the UN Charter, maintain basic international norms, respect national sovereignty and safeguard global peace and development.Reiterating Beijing’s broader diplomatic vision, Wang said China remains committed to promoting a “community with a shared future for humanity”, emphasising dialogue, cooperation and adherence to international law as the preferred means to resolve global challenges.Maduro was captured by US forces during a pre-dawn military operation on Saturday and is currently in American custody. His wife was also detained during the operation and flown to New York.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed charge late Sunday as the country’s acting president.Following the arrest, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Rodríguez, saying she must give the United States “total access” or face consequences “probably worse than Maduro”.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the US was seeking full access to Venezuela’s resources. “We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” he said.Trump also repeated remarks he had earlier made to The Atlantic, warning that Rodríguez would face a fate worse than Maduro if she did not “do the right thing”, CNN reported.US authorities confirmed that Maduro and his wife are scheduled to appear before a federal judge on Monday at 12 pm local time, marking their first court appearance since the US operation.Earlier, China demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, calling the US action a violation of international law and the UN Charter.“China expresses grave concern over the US forcibly seizing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, urging Washington to ensure their personal safety, “release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation”.China has long shared close strategic ties with Venezuela, built on political alignment, energy cooperation and opposition to US influence in Latin America. Over the years, Beijing has remained a major buyer of Venezuelan oil and one of the country’s largest investors and lenders, even amid US sanctions.