The Chinese government says it firmly supports the President Bola Tinubu administration as it “leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions”.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Mao Ning, spokesperson of China’s foreign ministry, said “as Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force”.
Ning was answering a question on US President Donald Trump’s threat of military action in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
She also responded to the report that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is seeking military equipment from China, Russia, and Iran to prepare for possible attacks by the US.
“China has a clear-cut stance on the US cracking down on so-called ‘drug cartels’ by force in the Caribbean Sea,” Ming said.
“China supports the effort of combating cross-border crimes through stronger international cooperation, and opposes using or threatening to use force in international relations.
“We stand against moves that undermine peace and stability in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, and oppose unilateral and excessive ‘enforcement operations’ against other countries’ vessels. We hope the U.S. will engage in normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation through bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks.”
