China Opposes Using Venezuela Aid Issue for Political Purposes - Foreign Ministry
China opposes foreign interference in Venezuelan affairs under the pretext of delivering humanitarian aid and calls on the international community to respect the Latin American country's sovereignty, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said on Monday
On Saturday, attempts to bring in unauthorized aid into Venezuela led to clashes between Venezuelan police officers, who tried to prevent aid-filled trucks from crossing the country's border without permission, and protesters, as well as prompted Caracas to cut off diplomatic and political relations with neighboring Colombia. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said he believes that the aid deliveries are a ploy to topple his government, while Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has dismissed allegations about a humanitarian crisis in the country and recalled that international law provided for deliveries of foreign humanitarian aid only in cases of natural disasters and armed conflicts.
"China hopes that peace and stability will be maintained in Venezuela. We are calling for respect for international law and the basic principles of international relations. China is against any foreign interference in Venezuelan domestic affairs, against using so-called humanitarian aid for achieving political purposes, against creating an unstable situation and unrest in Venezuela and neighboring territories. All of this is not in line with anyone's interests," Lu noted.
He reaffirmed China's calls to look for a political solution to the existing problems in Venezuela in line with the country's laws.
"We are calling on the international community to make efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation in Venezuela, its economic development and improvement of life conditions ... Based on respect of the Venezuelan sovereignty, the international community will be able to provide constructive assistance for the country," Lu noted.
Venezuela is currently going through a political crisis. On January 5, lawmaker Juan Guaido was elected as the president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which all other government branches have been refusing to recognize in 2016. On January 23, two days after the Venezuelan Supreme Court annulled his election, Guaido declared himself the country's "interim president." Incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn in for his second presidential term on January 10 after winning the May election, which part of the opposition boycotted, qualified Guaido's move as an attempt to stage a coup orchestrated by Washington.
The United States immediately recognized Guaido, after which some 50 other countries followed suit. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other states have, in the meantime, voiced their support for the legitimate government of Maduro. Mexico and Uruguay have refused to recognize Guaido, declaring themselves neutral and promoting crisis settlement via dialogue.