China calls on US to 'immediately release' Venezuela's Maduro

China called on the United States on Sunday to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after Washington carried out a strike on Caracas and captured the leader.

"China calls on the US to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement, calling the strike a "clear violation of international law".

China’s foreign ministry said Beijing was “deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the U.S.’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state.” Military strikes against Venezuela and the seizing of Maduro were “hegemonic acts” that “threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region,” it added.

China has been a major backer of Venezuela since the days of Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez, and has remained a key investor in the country and buyer of Venezuelan oil even as Caracas has become isolated on the global stage as a result of US pressure and popular opposition to the Venezuelan government.

The stunning US operation to remove Maduro took place only a day after he met with Qiu Xiaoqi, China’s special representative for Latin American and Caribbean Affairs. The meeting was also attended by Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s vice-president and now interim leader since Maduro’s forced removal.

According to Chinese state media, Mr Qiu “reiterated that China and Venezuela are long-standing strategic partners” and said Beijing was keen to strengthen ties and enhance coordination to “jointly create a bright future for China-Venezuela relations.”

Just what China can do in response to Mr Maduro’s capture is unclear, however. Beijing, along with Moscow, backed a request for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to what Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada, described as a “colonial war aimed at destroying our republican form of government.”

EU urges respect for international law after US capture of Maduro

Meanwhile, the European Union urged adherence to international law after US President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro early Saturday.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU “is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela” after the capture of Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

“The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition,” Kallas said in a post on X on Saturday.

“Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the U.N. Charter must be respected. We call for restraint,” she said.

Kallas said she had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU’s ambassador in Caracas.