On December 18, Gao Jiakun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a regular press conference.
A reporter from Japan's NHK asked: The United States is further increasing pressure on Venezuela, and the Venezuelan side has requested a UN Security Council meeting. The current situation is continuously tense. What is China's view and assessment of the current situation? In what way will China play a role in this issue?
Gao Jiakun stated that China opposes all unilateral bullying actions and supports countries in safeguarding their own sovereignty and national dignity. Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. China believes the international community understands and supports Venezuela's position in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests.
"China supports Venezuela's request for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council," said Gao Jiakun.
Since August this year, the number of U.S. troops deployed throughout the Caribbean region has increased significantly, aiming to put pressure on Venezuela. In addition, the U.S. military has directly attacked several targets in Venezuela, referring to them as "drug traffickers," but Venezuela claims that those attacked were civilians.
After entering December, the U.S. further increased pressure on Venezuela. U.S. aircraft carriers' planes were suspected to have entered the airspace of Venezuela's Gulf. Also, U.S. military helicopters descended by rope and directly seized a Venezuelan oil tanker. On December 16, President Trump posted on social media that the current government of Venezuela was a "foreign terrorist organization" and ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
In response to the U.S. actions, the Venezuelan side condemned the United States as "criminals on the high seas, pirates" and issued a long statement accusing the United States of carrying out "imperialist atrocities" and calling on all international institutions to "condemn the serious international crimes of the U.S."
On December 17, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister, spoke by phone with Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez. Delcy expressed the stance of the Venezuelan government and people to firmly defend the country's sovereignty and independence, to firmly protect their legal rights, and not to accept any power bullying or threats. Wang Yi stated that China and Venezuela are strategic partners, and mutual trust and support are the tradition of Sino-Venezuelan relations. China opposes all unilateral bullying actions and supports countries in safeguarding their own sovereignty and national dignity. Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. China believes the international community understands and supports Venezuela's position in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/7585105704327955007/
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