BEIJING -- China supports the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the US military action against Venezuela, and backs the Security Council in fulfilling its due role in accordance with its own responsibilities, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a news briefing here on Monday.

Lin noted that China is ready to work with the international community to firmly uphold the UN Charter, defend the bottom line of international morality, and safeguard international fairness and justice.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday on the US operation against Venezuela, the council presidency told Xinhua on Saturday.

BEIJING -- China respects Venezuela's sovereignty and independence, and believes that the Venezuelan government will properly manage its internal affairs in accordance with its constitution and laws, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said here Monday.

BEIJING -- No matter how the international situation changes, China will always be a good friend and a reliable partner of Latin American and Caribbean countries, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.

"China's policy toward the region will maintain continuity and stability," Lin said at a regular news briefing.

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump on Sunday night urged Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodriguez to grant the United States "total access," especially to Venezuela's oil resources.

"We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Trump said that he had not spoken directly with Rodriguez, but would do so "at the right time." Rodriguez, vice president under Nicolas Maduro, assumed the role of acting president after Maduro was flown out of Venezuela following US military attacks.

Meanwhile, Trump claimed that the United States was "in charge" of Venezuela and "dealing with the people that just got sworn in."

"Don't ask me who's in charge, because I'll give you an answer, and it'll be very controversial," Trump said. "It means we're in charge. We're in charge."

Trump reiterated comments made earlier Sunday in a phone interview with The Atlantic, warning that Rodriguez would face a fate worse than that of Maduro if she failed to "do the right thing."

"She will face a situation probably worse than Maduro, because, you know, Maduro gave up immediately," Trump said.

Maduro is expected to appear in court in New York on Monday.

Hours after Maduro's capture on Saturday morning, Trump said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call with Rodriguez and that the White House was working with her.

"She (Rodriguez) is essentially willing to do what we believe is necessary to make Venezuela great again," Trump told reporters, noting that she had been "picked by Maduro."

As Trump made these remarks, Rodriguez demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a session of the National Defense Council broadcast on state television channel VTV, calling Maduro "the only president of Venezuela."

Rodriguez said Venezuela's territorial integrity had been "savagely attacked" during US strikes on Caracas and other parts of the country carried out to capture Maduro.

Following the United States' military action on Saturday in which Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were seized and transferred to US territory, European leaders have reacted with references to international law and the United Nations Charter.

Hours after the operation, European Commission Vice-President and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas posted comments on X after speaking with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU's ambassador in Caracas.

"Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint," Kallas wrote.

Later, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition. Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter."

Neither official specified which provisions of the UN Charter they were referring to. However, Article 2 contains a directly relevant principle, stating: "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations."

Yan Xiaoxiao, an associate researcher at the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, added:"I don't know which international law scholar could consider it consistent with the Purposes of the United Nations to kidnap the legal president of a sovereign nation."

European national leaders initially adopted a cautious tone in their responses but stressed the need to uphold international laws and the UN Charter.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote: "The situation in Venezuela is fast moving. We will establish all the facts and speak to allies."

Later, after the US held a briefing about the situation, he said: "I reiterated my support for international law this morning."

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: "The legal assessment of the US operation is complex, and we will take the necessary time to evaluate it. International law remains the guiding standard."

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government believes external military action "is not the path" while added that Italy considers "defensive intervention legitimate when responding to hybrid threats to national security, such as those posed by state actors that fuel and facilitate narcotrafficking".

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot voiced strong opposition to the US military operation, reportedly writing on X: "The military operation that led to (Maduro's) seizure contravenes the principle of non-use of force, which underpins international law." However, as of press time, the post had been deleted.

According to Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University, the statements from European leaders reflect an inherent contradiction.

"There is no doubt that the US action violates the UN Charter and international law," Jian said. "But condemning Washington could further strain transatlantic relations. At the same time, US disregard for international law also poses a threat to Europe itself. Upholding the international order, international law, and the UN Charter ultimately serves the security and interests of all countries."

zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn

On Jan 3, 2026, the United States crossed a line that the postwar international order was explicitly designed to prevent. In a coordinated military operation involving air strikes and special forces, US troops entered Venezuelan territory, forcibly seized the country's sitting president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and transferred them to the United States to face domestic criminal charges. Washington subsequently announced its intention to oversee a "transition" in Venezuela and facilitate the entry of US oil companies into the country's energy sector.

This was not a diplomatic dispute. It did not constitute cooperation in the area of law enforcement. It was not an internationally sanctioned action. It was a unilateral act of force against a sovereign state — one that directly violates the United Nations Charter and undermines the most basic norms governing relations between nations.

Frontal assault on the UN-centered international order

The prohibition on the use of force is not a marginal rule of international law, it is its cornerstone. Article 2 of the UN Charter leaves no ambiguity: states must refrain from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of other states. Only two exceptions exist — self-defense against an armed attack, or authorization by the UN Security Council. The US' action against Venezuela satisfies neither.

Venezuela did not attack the United States. No Security Council resolution authorized military intervention. The operation therefore constitutes a clear violation of international law, regardless of how it is framed rhetorically. Redefining aggression as "law enforcement" does not change the illegal nature of the act.

China has consistently upheld the authority of the UN Charter and opposed the erosion of its core principles. Once these principles are discarded by powerful states, the international system ceases to be rules-based and becomes governed by brute force.

Domestic indictments do not justify invasions

Washington has sought to justify its actions by citing indictments filed in the US that accuse President Maduro of narcotics trafficking and "drug terrorism". Yet international law does not recognize the extraterritorial enforcement of domestic criminal law through military means.

If national courts are allowed to legitimize cross-border military raids, then every state becomes vulnerable to unilateral coercion. Any government disfavored by a stronger power could be criminalized, seized and removed from power under the guise of "justice". This is not the logic of law — it is imperial prerogative.

The international community has long-established mechanisms for dealing with transnational crime: judicial cooperation, extradition treaties and multilateral frameworks under the United Nations. Bypassing these mechanisms is not a sign of resolve, it is an admission that legality has been deliberately set aside. Rules that apply selectively are not rules at all.

Return of imposed governance

Even more revealing than the operation itself are Washington's subsequent statements. The claim that the United States will temporarily "manage" Venezuela until a "secure transition" is completed openly revives a doctrine that much of the world believed had been buried by history.

This language strips Venezuelan sovereignty of any real meaning. It treats a UN member state as an object to be administered rather than as a subject of international law. It echoes an era when foreign powers decided which governments were acceptable and which resources were to be "stabilized" for external benefit.

The US' move is in clear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. A country's political future must be determined by its own people, not by foreign troops or external economic interests. Any attempt to reshape Venezuela's political or economic system through coercion will only deepen instability and suffering.

Latin America's hard-earned norms under threat

The strong reactions heard from across Latin America are neither emotional nor ideological, they are rooted in historical experience. The region has spent decades working to establish non-intervention as a shared norm, precisely because external military interference has repeatedly brought division rather than development.

The US operation against Venezuela threatens to reverse this progress. It signals that military power, not regional consensus or international law, remains the decisive factor. Such a signal will inevitably heighten insecurity, fuel polarization and weaken trust across the hemisphere.

Instability does not stop at borders. Political shocks, economic disruptions and humanitarian consequences will affect neighboring countries and the wider region. At a time when global economic growth is fragile and geopolitical tensions are already high, injecting force into Latin America serves no constructive purpose.

Precedent that endangers all states

The UN secretary-general's warning that the US operation sets a "dangerous precedent" should not be understated. If the detention of a sitting head of state by a foreign military force is normalized, no country can consider itself safe.

Today, it is Venezuela. Tomorrow, it could be any state whose policies conflict with the interests of a stronger power. The erosion of restraint always begins with an exceptional case — and ends with permanent instability.

China advocates a multipolar world where all countries, regardless of size or strength, enjoy equal sovereignty. Upholding international law is not a rhetorical preference, it is a practical necessity for global stability.

Law, not force, is the path forward

What the situation demands now is restraint, de-escalation and a return to multilateralism. Unilateral actions must cease. Venezuela's sovereignty must be respected. Any political process must be inclusive, peaceful and led by Venezuelans themselves.

History offers a clear verdict. Military interventions justified as necessary or exceptional rarely deliver stability, democracy or prosperity. They weaken international norms, deepen divisions and leave long-term consequences that far outlast the stated objectives.

The international order cannot survive if force is allowed to replace law. Governance imposed at gunpoint is no governance at all. And abandoning restraint today risks a world where, tomorrow, no rule, no border and no state will be secure.

Xu Ying is a Beijing-based commentator.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.

A United States military attack on Venezuela marks a turning point in hemispheric relations, South American experts say, warning that it could have far-reaching consequences for the region and beyond.

Washington carried out airstrikes inside Venezuela early on Saturday and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Maduro was in a detention center in New York on Sunday and was expected to face trial under the US judicial system.

The attack followed months of heightened tensions between Venezuela and the US, which has accused Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking.

Jorge Heine, Chile's former ambassador to China and a nonresident fellow at the Quincy Institute in Washington, rejected the US' stated justification that the operation was linked to narcotics trafficking, saying Venezuela is neither a major drug producer nor a key transit country.

"There are two main reasons for this attack," Heine said. "To get US hands on Venezuelan oil, and to appeal to the Cuban and Venezuelan exile vote in Florida — Secretary of State Marco Rubio's home state."

The removal of Maduro does not resolve Venezuela's internal political crisis and could deepen uncertainty, he said.

He questioned Washington's post-intervention plans. "(US President Donald) Trump said in his press conference that the US will now run Venezuela, but how would that work?"

The operation has also unsettled governments across South America, Heine said, warning that the precedent could have broader regional implications.

The intervention "will cause great damage to the US standing in the region" and reinforces calls for greater strategic independence among Latin American countries, he said.

Beyond the region, Heine said the intervention carries serious implications for global governance.

"The attack on Venezuela is a flagrant violation of international law and of the United Nations Charter," he said. "It constitutes a significant blow to the international legal order and multilateralism."

Xavier Diaz-Lacayo, a Nicaraguan political analyst, strongly condemned the US military strike on Venezuela, calling for the international community to act.

"It is time to say enough," he told Cuban news agency Prensa Latina.

The international community should "firmly condemn the aggression and demand restitution" for "an assault on the international legal order".

Diaz-Lacayo urged Washington to respect international norms on self-determination and international law. He called for the restoration of Maduro "to the full exercise of his functions".

"The world must demand that the US handle international affairs according to the principles of peace and dialogue, as decided by the peoples of Latin America and the world."

Venezuela is determined "to live in peace and to exercise sovereignly the use of its strategic resources, such as oil and hydrocarbons, to sustain its economic development", he said. However, this right is being denied through accusations and attacks "that have no relation to international legality", he added.

The US position is "based on the doctrine of Manifest Destiny and the Monroe Doctrine, aimed at securing strategic, economic, political and military interests in the region", he said. He warned that "the condemnation from peoples and governments of the world contrasts with the persistence of a unilateral stance by the United States".

Agencies contributed to this story.

gaoyang@chinadailyusa.com

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Twelve hours after the United States bombed Venezuela during an operation to capture President Nicolas Maduro, the smoke continued to seep from hangars in the port of La Guaira north of Caracas.

La Guaira was one of several areas in or near Caracas struck by jets during a stealth mission to snatch Maduro and whisk him out of the country.

Deformed shipping containers, their contents spilling onto the docks, bore testimony to the force of the strikes that US officials said were designed to clear the way for helicopters to swoop in on Maduro's hiding place.

There were no reports of casualties in the area.

Firefighters used an excavator to remove broken glass and gnarled metal strewn across the site as police with pump-action rifles patrolled on motorbikes to prevent looting.

Curious onlookers filmed the scene on their smartphones, many still incredulous at the speed and magnitude of the day's events. In a little over an hour, US forces removed Maduro who had clung to power through years of United States sanctions.

The blasts blew out the windows of public buildings on La Guaira's seafront and ripped the roofs off several houses.

"Psssh, first we saw the flash and then the explosion," said Alpidio Lovera, 47, who ran to a hill with his pregnant wife and other residents to escape the strikes.

His sister Linda Unamuno, 39, burst into sobs as she recalled a nightmarish night.

"The blast smashed the entire roof of my house," she said.

Unamuno's first thoughts were that La Guaira was experiencing another natural disaster, 26 years after a landslide of biblical proportions swept away 10,000 people, many of them washed out to sea.

"I went out, that's when I saw what was happening. I saw the fire from the airstrikes. It was traumatizing," she sobbed, adding she "wished it on no one".

In Caracas, while a few hundred Maduro supporters gathered to clamor for his freedom, the streets were otherwise eerily quiet.

"I felt the explosions lift me out of bed," Maria Eugenia Escobar, 58, told Agence France-Presse. "In that instant I thought: 'My God, the day has come,' and I cried."

The strikes started around 2 am, with dozens of detonations that some people at first mistook for fireworks.

Katia Briceno, a 54-year-old university professor, came out to protest against US "barbarism".

"How is it that a foreign government comes into the country and removes the president? It's absurd!" she told AFP.

Agencies via Xinhua

Trump warns of second strike on Venezuela if current gov't doesn't behave

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Sunday stressed that the United States needs Greenland "for defense," claiming that Venezuela may not be the last country subject to US intervention, according to The Atlantic.

"We do need Greenland, absolutely," Trump said in a phone interview with the magazine. The island, located in the Arctic, is part of Denmark.

It was up to others to decide what the large-scale US strike against Venezuela means to Greenland, Trump said.

"They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don't know," Trump said. "You know, I wasn't referring to Greenland at that time. But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Sunday that the United States has no right to annex Greenland, urging Washington to stop making threats against a close ally and the Greenlandic people.

"I have to say it very directly to the United States," Frederiksen said in a statement. She rejected the idea that it would be necessary for the United States to take over Greenland, stressing that "the United States has no right to annex" any of the three parts of the Danish Realm -- Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Throughout last year, Trump has frequently repeated the same call for the United States to take over Greenland, which triggered strong objections from Greenland, Denmark and the European Union.

The Trump administration has cited a combination of national security concerns, Arctic strategy, and the potential of critical minerals and natural resources as drivers of US interest in controlling Greenland.

Trump said on Saturday the United States will "run" Venezuela after the US military raided the country and took Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by force.

The international community is deeply shocked by the Trump administration's raid on Venezuela and Maduro. Many countries have issued statements strongly condemning the blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president.

CARACAS - Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday held the first cabinet meeting after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by the United States, state TV reported.

A day earlier, the country's top court ordered Rodriguez, Maduro's vice president, to take over as acting president.

The preamble of the meeting, broadcast by the state-owned Venezolana de Television, indicated that it was intended to "address strategic lines framed in the 'state of external commotion'" decreed by the Venezuelan government.

Also on Sunday, Rodriguez formed a committee to work for the release of Maduro.

African leaders and political groups have expressed alarm over the United States' military action in Venezuela, calling for restraint, dialogue and respect for international law, while warning of wider global repercussions.

The African Union said on Saturday it is following the developments with grave concern, citing the military attacks targeting Venezuelan state institutions and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro.

In a statement, the AU reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Venezuela's internal challenges can only be addressed sustainably through inclusive political dialogue among Venezuelans themselves, it said. "The African Union underscores the importance of dialogue, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for constitutional and institutional frameworks, in a spirit of good neighborliness, cooperation and peaceful coexistence among nations."

It expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people, reiterating its commitment to the promotion of peace, stability and mutual respect among nations and regions.

On the weekend, South Africa called on the United Nations Security Council to convene urgently over US involvement in a large-scale military operation in Venezuela.

"Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations," South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement.

The actions constituted a manifest violation of the UN Charter, which mandates that all member states refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, and do not authorize external military intervention in matters essentially within a sovereign state's domestic jurisdiction, it said.

In Kenya, the Communist Party of Kenya also condemned the US action, describing it as illegal and imperialist.

The party's chairman, Mwandawiro Mghanga, warned against a dangerous precedent and raised concerns over alleged threats by the US and its Western allies to interfere in the internal affairs of Iran.

"Today it is Venezuela, Iran and Cuba, but tomorrow it could be the whole world," he said, calling on the international community to condemn the actions and urging progressives to show solidarity with Venezuela.

China and the international community have expressed strong opposition after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and US President Donald Trump said the US will "run" the Latin American country.

A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry called on Sunday for the immediate release of Maduro, who was in custody at a New York detention center, and his wife.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the US strikes on Venezuela set "a dangerous precedent". The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday regarding the matter.

Maduro and his wife, captured from their home on a Venezuelan military base, were first taken away aboard a US warship. A plane carrying the leader then landed in New York on Saturday evening.

Maduro was questioned at the Metropolitan Detention Center in the New York City borough of Brooklyn in connection with allegations of "drug trafficking", according to media reports.

At least 40 people were killed in the US attack, including military personnel and civilians, The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing a senior Venezuelan official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Venezuela announced a state of national emergency and denounced the "military aggression", with Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez reportedly slamming the "kidnapping" of Maduro, saying he is "the only president of Venezuela".

China expressed grave concern over the US move.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday in Beijing that China has never believed that any country has the right to act as "international police", nor does it accept that any country can style itself as an "international judge". He emphasized that the sovereignty and security of all countries must be fully protected under international law.

Noting that the sudden escalation of the situation in Venezuela has drawn widespread international attention, Wang said China has consistently opposed the use or threat of force in international relations and rejects imposing one country's will on others.

Meanwhile, China calls on the US to ensure the personal safety of Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, the ministry spokesperson said.

The spokesperson urged Washington to abide by international law as well as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries' sovereignty and security.

UN Secretary-General Guterres is "deeply alarmed" by the US military action in Venezuela, his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said on Saturday.

"These developments constitute a dangerous precedent," Dujarric said in a statement.

"The ?secretary-general continues to emphasize the importance of full respect — by all — of international law, including the UN Charter. He's deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected," Dujarric said.

Meanwhile, during a news conference on Saturday ?at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the US president said, "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition" in Venezuela.

Trump offered no timeline for how long such a transition of power was expected to take.

A US occupation "won't cost us anything", Trump said, because the US would be reimbursed from the "money coming out of the ground", a reference to Venezuela's oil reserves.

Trump said that US energy companies would rebuild Venezuela's broken infrastructure under US supervision.

In a letter to the UN Security Council on Saturday, Venezuela's UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada described the operation as a "deadly and treacherous US military attack" against "a country that is at peace", warning that the attack "has serious implications for regional and international peace and security".

He said the US had violated the UN Charter, citing its provision that "all members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state".

In a separate letter to the Security Council's president for January, which is Somalia, Venezuela's Permanent Mission to the United Nations condemned what it called "brutal, unjustified and unilateral" US armed attacks.

Spanish Prime ?Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social media platform X that Spain will not "recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence".

During a phone call on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov strongly condemned the US aggression against Venezuela, stressing that Moscow and Minsk are united in condemning actions in violation of international legal norms.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, "The military operation that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro violates the principle of not resorting to force", a principle that he said "underpins international law".

"International law prohibits the use of force as a means of national policy," Marc Weller, program director of London think tank Chatham House's International Law Programme, said in a post on Chatham House's website on Saturday.

Short of a UN Chapter VII mandate, force is generally lawful only "in response to an armed attack" or possibly to rescue a population facing "imminent threat of extermination", he said.

"Clearly, none of these requirements are fulfilled" by the US operation against Venezuela, he said, adding that US interests in stopping drugs, or portraying the Maduro government as a criminal enterprise, offers "no legal justification".

Roxanna Vigil, an?international affairs fellow?in national security at the New York-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations, noted that Trump did not indicate the US government would prioritize new elections or offer a concrete vision of a future democratic Venezuela.

"Without a clear democratic road map, the United States is beginning a new open-ended foreign occupation focused primarily on oil," Vigil wrote in a post on the think tank's website.

Agencies contributed to this report.

Contact the writers at zhaohuanxin@chinadaily.com.cn

PYONGYANG - The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday condemned the US latest actions against Venezuela for violating the country's sovereignty, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

"The DPRK Foreign Ministry strongly denounces the US hegemony-seeking act committed in Venezuela as the most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty and as a wanton violation of the UN Charter and international laws," a ministry spokesperson was quoted by the KCNA as saying.

The spokesperson said the current situation stems from US high-handed actions, which have further destabilized an already fragile regional situation. The latest US moves against the Latin American country were cited as "another example that clearly confirms once again the rogue and brutal nature of the United States."

The international community should recognize the seriousness of the present situation and voice protest and condemnation against the US habituated violation of other countries' sovereignty, the spokesperson added.

The international community is deeply shocked by the United States' blatant use of force against Venezuela, including large-scale air strikes on the country and the forcible seizure of its president and his wife. Its actions should be condemned as they constitute a naked act of armed aggression against a sovereign state and flagrantly violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, as well as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

By any definition, the US military operation amounts to an invasion. It dangerously escalates the so-called "Monroe Doctrine" from a 19th-century, isolationist-era concept into a 21st-century doctrine of force and coercion. This sets an alarming precedent for Latin America and the Caribbean, posing a direct threat to the sovereignty and security of countries across the region and shaking the foundations of the international order established after World War II.

Washington's justification of it being a "counter narcotics" action is neither credible nor legitimate. No such pretext can justify the bombing of a sovereign country or the abduction of its head of state. If such reasoning were to be accepted, it would effectively grant powerful nations a license to intervene militarily wherever they see fit, under a pretext given by themselves, hollowing out international law and replacing it with the law of the jungle.

The true motivation behind the US' aggression was laid bare by the US administration, which triumphantly announced that Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been "captured and flown out of the country" and that the US would "run" Venezuela on a "temporary basis" to "get the oil flowing". These remarks tore away the already thin veil of moral pretense, exposing the operation for what it was: a resource-grabbing power play. Any veneer of pursuing justice or stability was blasted away in a blatant demonstration of lawless hypocrisy. The pattern is disturbingly reminiscent of the Iraq War — another chapter in Washington's long record of seizing other countries' resources under false pretenses.

Washington's claim of "strategic retrenchment" thus rings hollow. For other countries in the Americas, this is not retrenchment but imperialist expansion — an aggressive reassertion of arrogant conceit. Venezuela is unlikely to be the last victim if this logic is allowed to prevail. The military action also aims to intimidate regional countries and deter them from deepening cooperation with other partners in the fields that the US is trying to dominate.

The news conference held by US officials shortly after the operation only underscored this intent. The brazen boasting about "Operation Absolute Resolve", including lurid details of how US special forces seized the Venezuelan president from his bedroom, was designed to instill fear rather than convey transparency. It revealed the extent to which the US is prepared to turn its military superiority into an instrument for imposing its will on others.

From fabricated charges to military strikes and regime change, the operation follows a familiar and deeply troubling script — one that reflects the logic of state piracy. Sovereign governments are first delegitimized, then destroyed by force, after which foreign capital moves in to carve up natural resources. This behavior drags the world back toward a barbaric colonial era of plunder, in open defiance of international law.

Such egregious conduct has not gone unchallenged even within the US. Some observers bluntly stated that the US has become a bully of the world. No wonder even some in the US political circle said they never again wanted to hear US leaders preach about a so-called "rules-based" international order.

International reaction has been equally blunt. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over Washington's disregard for international law. Russia said it was "extremely alarmed" by the act of armed aggression. The European Union called for respect for international law and the UN Charter "in all circumstances". These voices reflect a shared global anxiety that when might replaces law, no nation is safe.

History has repeatedly shown that while wars may be easy to start, they are far harder to end. Although Washington boasts of the supposed efficiency and low cost of its operation, the true price will be paid over time by the entire region — and ultimately by the US itself. Power politics may yield short-term gains, but they cannot bring lasting peace or stability.

China has urged the US to ensure the personal safety of Maduro and his wife, immediately release them, cease attempts to subvert the Venezuelan government, and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation. What the world is witnessing is not a "rules-based" order, but colonial pillaging. Upholding sovereignty, equality and noninterference is not optional. It is the foundation of global stability — and it must be defended.

Protesters gathered outside the White House in Washington, D.C., to oppose the US military action in Venezuela, following US President Donald Trump's announcement of the capture of the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro.

NEW YORK - Hundreds of people took to the streets of Manhattan on Saturday to protest against the US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The march was part of nationwide "No war on Venezuela" demonstrations in more than 100 US cities, including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and Miami.

Protesters gathered in Times Square, waving signs that read "Hands off Venezuela," "US out of Caribbean," "No war for Venezuelan oil," and "Defend Venezuela against US imperialism." Chants of "Defend Venezuela, Free Maduro" echoed through the crowd.

"This war is not about drugs, it is about Venezuela's oil," said Karen, a middle-aged New Yorker in the march.

"How do you have the right to step in Venezuela, to attack Venezuela?" she said. "It feels like we act as criminals."

"We are here to say that this is an unjust action," she added.

Hassan, a college student from Pakistan, said US-led government change efforts abroad were not new, "but at least it wore a mask, like in the name of restoring democracy in the Middle East."

"However, today it takes the mask off," Hassan said. "This is quite nakedly about oil and natural resources."

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that his country has struck Venezuela and captured its President Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife.

Trump said that the United States will "run" Venezuela until "a safe, proper and judicious transition."

"This is not gonna happen," one speaker at the Times Square rally said in response. "It's arrogance."

"Listen to what Trump said today when he said, 'we want all your oil, all your land, all your assets, turn it over to us,'" the speaker added.

"The Venezuelan people will not accept the United States running their country or stealing their oil, gas, gold, or any resources. There will be strong resistance," she said. "No, that age is over."

One of the organizers, Answer Coalition, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, condemned the latest US bombing of Caracas and the capture of Maduro, calling on Americans to "say no to another endless war."

"A US war would cause death and destruction to the people of Venezuela. The war machine consumes an unimaginable amount of our tax dollars while working families struggle to make ends meet," the anti-war group said in a statement. "The people need to take to the streets and say no to Trump's war on Venezuela!"

Countries around the world condemned the United States' latest military action in Venezuela on Saturday, after Washington reportedly "captured" President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and flew them to New York. The move has sent shock waves through the international community, with many voices strongly denouncing what they described as a blatant use of force against a sovereign state and a threat to the peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Communist Party of Kenya has condemned the US invasion of Venezuela, labeling it an illegal and imperialist act.

The party also expressed concern over what it said are threats by US President Donald Trump and his Western allies to invade Iran by interfering in its internal affairs.

Mwandawiro Mghanga, the party chairperson, called on the international community to condemn the actions, warning against a repeat of history.

"We should remember history and the rise of fascism led by Adolf Hitler," he said. "Today it is Venezuela, Iran and Cuba, but tomorrow it will be the whole world including Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia and USA itself."

Mghanga emphasized that repeating such historical mistakes would be costly, reinforcing the party's support for Venezuela, Cuba and Iran.

"The Communist Party of Kenya calls upon all progressives in Kenya and globally to rise up, hold demonstrations, and show solidarity with the popular leadership of Venezuela; and to condemn in no uncertain terms, the imperialist invasion of Venezuela by the US," he said.

Editor's note: US strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro has been condemned globally as a serious violation of international law and national sovereignty. Two Chinese experts share their views with China Daily's Wang Qingyun and Li Huixian. Excerpts follow:

US strikes blatant hegemonic invasion

After a swift military strike against Venezuela on Saturday, the US administration announced that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the country". Subsequently, the US administration said it would "run" Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition". The lightning speed at which it all happened sent shock waves across the globe.

The official explanation the US has offered for its military action was "combating drug trafficking" and "protecting regional security". However, clearly there are far-reaching intentions behind the operation.

In the United States' recently issued National Security Strategy, the US administration focused on putting the Western Hemisphere first, and proposed the so-called "Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine". It declared that the US would restore "American preeminence" in the Western Hemisphere to prevent "foreign hostile forces" from gaining a foothold in key regional assets and influence. The strategy includes a stronger military presence, stricter border and drug controls, more active political influence mechanisms and the use of force when necessary.

The US military strike on Venezuela is a concentrated embodiment of the "corollary-style Monroe Doctrine" in practice. First, through military intervention, the US administration is moving away from a pattern which involved only imposing economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Saturday's strike is a case of direct military intervention, demonstrating US military presence in the Western Hemisphere at the strategic level.

Second, the strike was undoubtedly aimed at reshaping the regional power structure and balance of influence. Even in the National Security Strategy, the US clearly prioritizes curbing the influence by "competitors" as a key focus of its Western Hemisphere policy.

In this context, Venezuela carries symbolic significance, being an important partner of China in energy and infrastructure cooperation and a crucial node for Chinese investment and the Belt and Road Initiative's extension into Latin America. The US, through military intervention, disrupted the political stability of this key node.

The core logic is to strengthen the US' discourse power as the dominant force in the Western Hemisphere through violent deterrence and political intervention.

Of course, this strategy will come with significant backlash. Latin American countries have long sought strategic autonomy and diverse cooperation options. The US' excessive militarized intervention could prompt these countries to reassess their foreign strategies, even to deepen their resistance to external intervention, thereby fostering closer South-South cooperation. Thus, the use of hard power does not necessarily lead to the expected strategic compliance but may instead exacerbate tensions and security predicament in the region.

In summary, this event is both a strong signal of the US' strategic intentions and a high-risk gamble in the US' adjustment of its global strategy. It represents a clear and thorough rejection of international cooperation and multilateral rules, and declares the US' determination to impose its "hard power" on the international order, use military force to redefine its geopolitical influence boundaries and return to "backyard hegemony".

Zhao Pu is an assistant researcher at the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

US 'neocolonialism' cannot conquer justice

US troops invaded Venezuela on Jan 3, illegally capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country. The US claimed it would prosecute them on US soil for facilitating drug trafficking, an act that not only severely undermines international law and tramples on international norms but also has profound implications for regional stability. At its core, the US aims to plunder Venezuela's abundant oil and gas reserves and reassert comprehensive control over the Western Hemisphere, essentially reenacting "neocolonialism" in the Americas.

Following the commencement of Trump's second term, the United States has significantly intensified its intervention and assertion of interests in the Western Hemisphere, introducing the "Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine", which vividly showcases the essence of hegemonism. The current Venezuelan government is seen as a cornerstone of the anti-American bloc, and for over two decades, the US has unsuccessfully attempted to achieve regime change in the country through various means.

During Trump's first term, the US supported opposition leader Juan Guaidó against the Maduro government, but the efforts failed. On resuming the presidency, Trump, confronted with global turmoil, urgently needs to establish US authority, gain tangible benefits and political capital, and fulfill the "America First" campaign promise, with Latin America being the easiest target for such endeavors.

By acting against Venezuela the US achieves a "triple win". First, Venezuela has abundant oil and gas reserves, from which the US can seize a large amount to gain substantial profits.

Second, overthrowing President Maduro serves as a deterrent to other Latin American countries that are not aligned with the US, warning them against opposing the US. Especially as an increasing number of Latin American countries attempt to pursue independent paths and explore mutually beneficial cooperation with major countries outside the region, the US aims to force Latin American countries to choose sides.

Third, it influences the regional political landscape by building a pro-American bloc. Latin American countries have entered a new era, with right-wing presidential candidates winning elections in Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Honduras in 2025; these newly elected leaders generally express a desire to strengthen cooperation with the US. As Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Costa Rica are set to hold elections in 2026, it is no surprise that the US seeks to expand its influence in the region to secure greater benefits.

However, such calculated maneuvers may backfire. Chilean President Gabriel Boric has condemned the US military operation in Venezuela and warned that "tomorrow it could be any other country".

More Latin American people are opposing the resurgence of the "Monroe Doctrine" and striving for an independent path. While might may overthrow a regime, it can never conquer the pursuit of justice.

Jin Xiaowen is an associate Professor at School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, and secretary-general of the Latin American Research Center.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.