China backs Venezuela, warns US against ‘bullying’ after second deadly sea raid

Venezuela’s foreign minister said Wednesday that China pledged support for Caracas’ efforts to preserve peace in the Caribbean, quoting Ambassador Lan Hu as saying Beijing stood “in solidarity” as Washington pressed ahead with military strikes on boats it claimed were carrying drugs.

Foreign Minister Yvan Gil met with Lan in Caracas and described the message from Beijing as a significant gesture at a time when the United States had deployed warships and launched two deadly operations in less than a month.

Gil stressed that President Nicolas Maduro was committed to regional unity and to what he called an “authentic battle” against narcotics trafficking, but accused Washington of using military power for political ends.

Three people on board were killed – and video footage, according to Trump, showed “big bags of cocaine and fentanyl” floating in the sea.