The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced a “total blockade” against sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, intensifying the military device begun in August in the Caribbean Sea.
The head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, expressed support for the Government of Nicolás Maduro in the face of the tightening of United States sanctions, during a telephone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yván Gil, Beijing announced this Thursday.
China’s Foreign Minister stated that Beijing “opposes all forms of unilateral intimidation” and supports countries that defend their sovereignty and dignity.
“Venezuela has the right to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, and the international community understands and supports its position in defending legitimate rights and interests,” Wang said, according to a statement released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Chinese official stressed that China and Venezuela are “strategic partners”, and highlighted that support and mutual trust have been “a traditional characteristic of relations between both countries”.
Yván Gil informed Wang about Venezuela’s internal situation and assured that the Government “will firmly defend sovereignty and independence and will not accept threats from any abusive power.”
Hours earlier, the Venezuelan minister had already said, through the Telegram platform, that during the call he discussed with Wang the “threats and aggressions” against Venezuela and the “risks that loom over Latin America and the Caribbean”.
