China’s Foreign Ministry has demanded that Washington immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were seized by US forces and taken to the United States the previous day.

The ministry said Beijing was calling on the US to guarantee the personal safety of Maduro and his spouse, to free them without delay, to stop attempts to undermine political power in Venezuela and to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations. Chinese diplomats stressed that they view the detention of the Venezuelan leader and his wife with deep concern.

According to the statement, Beijing considers US actions a gross violation of international law and fundamental norms of international relations, and argues that they run counter to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

On 3 January, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States had carried out a strike on Venezuela and stated that Maduro and Flores had been detained and removed from the country. Western media reported that the operation was conducted by members of the elite Delta Force unit. Journalists cited figures indicating that at least 40 people were killed during the US action.

Later, Trump published a photograph showing Maduro aboard a US aircraft. At the same time, American media broadcast live coverage of a plane’s arrival in New York, where Maduro and his wife were led out under escort by law enforcement officers.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry also reacted, expressing solidarity with the people of Venezuela. The Russian side said it was seriously concerned by what it described as the abduction of the Venezuelan president by US military personnel.