Olushola Omogbehin
Following the recent US threat of military action in Nigeria over the alleged persecution of Christians, China has appealed to the international community to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The Spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday in Beijing.
According to her, Beijing “firmly supports the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as it leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions.”
Describing Nigeria as a comprehensive strategic partner, she warned against interference in its internal affairs.
“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”.
She also responded to the news that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is seeking military equipment from China, Russia and Iran in preparation 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. 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.”
