Beijing condemns latest confiscation as unilateral intimidation amid rising pressure on Venezuela.
On Monday, China accused the United States of violating international law over a new arbitrary seizure of a vessel transporting Venezuelan oil.
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“China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law and are not authorized by the United Nations Security Council,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian.
“China opposes any action that violates the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and undermines the sovereignty and security of other countries, and opposes all forms of unilateral intimidation.”
“Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. The international community understands and supports Venezuela’s position in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests,” Lin stressed.
🇺🇸🇨🇳🇻🇪 US Coast Guard special forces on the tanker CENTURIES off the coast of Venezuela
USA promise to tighten the blockade of Venezuela, emphasizing that the oil under sanctions is used to finance terrorism and drug trafficking.
The tanker, under the Panamanian flag, operated… pic.twitter.com/0bu4nvwEvQ
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) December 21, 2025
On Saturday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the seizure of the Panama-flagged tanker Centuries, which Washington considers a false-flag vessel and part of what it describes as Venezuela’s ghost fleet.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly insisted the ship was carrying oil from Venezuela’s state-run company PDVSA. Media reports, however, said the seized tanker is not on the U.S. blacklist.
On Dec. 10, Washington seized the sanctioned vessel Skipper and confiscated the crude it was carrying. Days later, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ban on the entry and exit of oil tankers sanctioned by the U.S. government, as part of the pressure campaign against Venezuela.
On several occasions, the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolas Maduro has rejected both seizures as “theft” and insisted it will take “all appropriate actions.”
Since Washington intensified pressure against Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea, China has condemned the actions, calling them “interference in the internal affairs” of the South American country.
During a high-level plenary meeting, Venezuela’s permanent representative to the #UN, Samuel Moncada, reiterated that #Venezuela will defend its territorial sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/aG4okMavpi
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 18, 2025
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Source: EFE
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