China’s Xinhua has denounced the reported U.S. military incursion into Venezuela and the targeting of President Nicolás Maduro, saying the action exposes Washington’s reliance on force over diplomacy and undermines established rules of state conduct.
In a commentary published on Jan. 3, Xinhua argued the operation bypassed the United Nations Security Council and ran contrary to the UN Charter. The agency pointed specifically to Article 2(4), which prohibits the use or threat of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, and said the United States had shown itself to be the principal transgressor of those provisions.
International law and the UN Charter
The commentary framed the Venezuela episode as part of a broader pattern of intervention. Citing past examples from Iraq and Libya to Panama and Grenada, Xinhua said Washington had repeatedly employed force or coercive measures under questionable pretexts, often leaving long-term instability in its aftermath. Venezuela, it said, has already been subject to sanctions and diplomatic pressure, and the latest action amounts to the sidelining of diplomatic channels in favour of military coercion.
Observers noted the regional resonance of the complaint. Latin America has a long history of external interference, and Xinhua’s commentary described the incident as especially damaging because it revives the logic of a dominion over the Western Hemisphere once tied to the Monroe Doctrine. The piece quoted an analysis pointing to Washington’s ambition to exert greater control over its near abroad.
Beyond historical analogy, the article outlined the practical implications for global governance. By circumventing the Security Council, the United States, according to Xinhua, erodes the authority of multilateral institutions designed to manage interstate conflict and uphold collective security. That erosion, the commentary warned, risks returning international affairs to a condition where power, rather than law, determines outcomes.
For countries that favour a rules-based international order, the commentary called for an unequivocal defence of sovereignty and multilateralism. Xinhua urged the international community to speak out and to work through established institutions to prevent a dangerous precedent that would normalise unilateral uses of force.
Analysts said the episode will intensify debates about the role of great powers and the resilience of international norms. Supporters of stronger collective mechanisms argue that reinforcement of the UN system and adherence to legal principles are essential to reduce the risk of spillover, regional escalation and long-term instability.
While the immediate diplomatic fallout is likely to centre on Latin American capitals and Washington, the commentary underscored wider strategic ramifications. For nations that have emphasised sovereign equality and multilateral dispute resolution, the Venezuela case may prompt renewed calls for reform of international institutions and for more robust mechanisms to deter unilateral action.
In sum, Xinhua’s piece presented the U.S. incursion as not only a matter of bilateral tension but also a test for the international order. It urged states to defend legal norms and multilateral forums to ensure that law, rather than raw power, governs inter-state relations.
Key Takeaways:
- Xinhua condemns the U.S. military action in Venezuela as a violation of international law and sovereignty.
- The commentary cites Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and historical precedents of U.S. interventions.
- The piece warns the action weakens multilateral institutions and calls for a united defence of sovereignty.
