Wary China offers support to embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
- Beijing calls for calm as it weighs prospects for its huge investments amid Caracas’ political turmoil
China voiced support for the increasingly isolated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday as the Latin American country plunged deeper into turmoil over a diplomatic showdown with the United States.
As oil-rich Venezuela’s main ally and creditor, China faces a dilemma – caught between backing Maduro and not taking sides – as it weighs the implications of a growing social and political crisis on its multibillion-dollar investment, analysts said.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying called on “all parties to remain rational and keep calm, and reach a political settlement through peaceful dialogue”.
Asked directly if China recognised Maduro, Hua said Beijing sent representatives to his inauguration. “We respect Venezuela’s efforts to uphold its sovereignty, independence and stability,” she added.
“China opposes foreign forces from interfering into Venezuela affairs.”
Hua’s remarks came as Maduro broke off diplomatic ties with Washington after US President Donald Trump formally recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim head of state on Wednesday. Other countries in the region, including Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia and Peru, also backed Guaido, the 35-year-old president of the National Assembly who had declared himself the country’s acting president.