China rejects the US’s role as the “world’s judge”, following Maduro’s detention
China stresses respect for sovereignty and asserts that no nation has the authority to serve as the “world police” in the wake of Maduro’s US incarceration.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has criticized the United States’ imprisonment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and cautioned against any nation acting as the “world’s judge” or “world’s police.” Without specifically mentioning Washington, Wang stated at a meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Sunday that recent events in Venezuela highlighted the importance of upholding both international law and national sovereignty.
In his first public statement since pictures of the 63-year-old Venezuelan leader handcuffed and blindfolded after his arrest surfaced, Wang emphasized the need to safeguard the security and sovereignty of all countries. Maduro is scheduled to appear in court on drug-related allegations while being detained in a New York detention facility. In addition to shocking many Venezuelans, the incident heightened international discussion about US interventionism.
Beijing, which has attempted to establish itself as a trustworthy partner and global mediator, especially in the developing world, faces a serious diplomatic problem as a result of the episode. After over 50 years of diplomatic ties, China and Venezuela formally established a “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership” in 2023. According to analysts, US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington will temporarily supervise Venezuela’s administration poses a threat to the strength and stability of that partnership.
Since Western sanctions tightened in 2017, China has been a major economic backer of Venezuela, and in 2024, it bought over $1.6 billion worth of products, of which nearly half were crude oil. Billions of dollars have also been invested in the nation’s oil industry by Chinese state-owned energy companies. With long-standing political, economic, and educational relations now in jeopardy, analysts believe Beijing must strike a balance between strengthening geopolitical rivalry with the United States and maintaining its strategic partnership with Caracas.
