China strongly condemned the United States’ decision to redirect Venezuelan oil exports to Washington, to the detriment of Beijing, this Wednesday (7), after American President Donald Trump revealed a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that were trapped in the country due to the US blockade.
Trump said on Tuesday (6) that Washington had reached a deal to import $2 billion in Venezuelan crude oil, a move that should increase supplies to the world’s biggest oil consumer.
The agreement may initially require the redirection of cargo originally destined for China.
“I would like to emphasize that the legitimate rights and interests of China and other countries in Venezuela must be protected,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference.
Cooperation between China and Venezuela “is cooperation between sovereign states and is protected by international law and the laws of both countries,” she added.
