BEIJING, Dec 18 (Reuters) – China objected to what it said was ‘unilateral intimidation’ after Washington ordered a blockade of sanctioned tankers going in and out of oil-rich Venezuela, but did not say exactly how it would help the South American country or offer any refuge to its embattled leader.
This week, US President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers attempting to leave Venezuelan waters, as well as those arriving, as Washington mass troops and warships in the region.
China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil, which accounts for about 4% of its imports, with December shipments on track to average more than 600,000 barrels a day, according to analysts.
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Beijing opposes all forms of ‘unilateral intimidation’ and supports countries in protecting their sovereignty and national dignity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil in a phone call on Wednesday.
Wang did not name the United States or Trump in the call, according to reports. Wang also did not elaborate on the form or extent of support China might offer Venezuela, a country with which Beijing previously said it had forged a solid friendship.
The US is putting pressure on Venezuela’s main source of revenue in an attempt to combat terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking, according to Trump. Last week, the US Coast Guard seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
President Nicolás Maduro has said the US wants the OPEC nation’s oil resources, and that the increase in military force aims to topple it. In an interview with Politico, Trump said Maduro’s days were ‘numbered’.
For years, China has extended lines of credit to Venezuela through oil loan agreements. In a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow this year, Maduro told Xi that Venezuela sought to expand cooperation in trade and energy.
At the same time, Beijing has made intense efforts to coexist with the US, its most important trading partner. After months of bitter disputes over trade and tariffs, Trump and Xi managed in October to reach a consensus on how to handle thorny trade issues.
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China says it opposes any acts that violate the United Nations Charter or invade the sovereignty and security of other countries.
“China believes that the international community understands and supports Venezuela’s position in defending its legitimate rights and interests,” Wang said.
