China signals support for Venezuela’s interim President Rodriguez

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Tuesday signaled its support for Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed office as interim leader of Venezuela, after a US military intervention in Caracas captured President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores.

Beijing “respects Venezuela's sovereignty and independence, and respects the arrangements made by the Venezuelan government in accordance with its own constitution and laws,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in the Chinese capital.

Mao was responding to questions about whether the Chinese side recognizes the interim government of Venezuela led by Rodriguez, Beijing-based daily Global Times reported.

Rodriguez, Venezuela’s vice president and oil minister, was formally sworn in on Monday as interim president, following a “large-scale” operation by the US against Caracas on Saturday, capturing Maduro and his wife Flores, who were flown to the US to face criminal charges at a court in New York.

“I swear by Commander Hugo Chavez,” Rodriguez said before Venezuela’s National Assembly in the capital Caracas, lamenting the seizure of Maduro and Flores.

Asked whether China will seek sanctions against Washington over its military operation in Caracas, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the US, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has “disregarded the serious concerns of the international community and wantonly trampled on Venezuela's sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests.”

“China firmly opposes this. We support the Security Council in fulfilling its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security,” Mao said.

Some 80 people were killed in the US raid on Caracas, the New York Times reported, citing Venezuelan officials.

Maduro and Flores are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and were brought before US Judge Alvin Hellerstein in New York on Monday, where the duo pleaded not guilty to US federal charges tied to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations.

Both Maduro and Flores reject the charges.

"The United States has disregarded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's status as head of state by openly prosecuting and conducting a so-called 'trial' in its domestic court, severely violating Venezuela's national sovereignty and undermining the stability of international relations," Chinese spokeswoman Mao stressed.

"No country can place its own rules above international law," she added, according to Xinhua News.

Beijing has expressed “shock” and condemnation of the US raid and has asked Washington to ensure safety, as well as sought the immediate release of the captured Venezuelan president and first lady.