China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned the United States’ interception of a Venezuela-bound oil tanker, calling it a serious violation of international law.
The announcement came after US authorities intercepted a China-bound tanker off the Venezuelan coast carrying crude oil purchased from the Venezuelan state company PDVSA.
Spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters that Venezuela has the sovereign right to maintain relations with other nations and that China opposes any “unilateral and illegal” sanctions, according to news reports.
The tanker, named Centuries but operating under the false name Crag, was transporting approximately 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil to China, according to shipping documents.
The oil was purchased through intermediaries including Satau Tijana Oil Trading, which handles sales to Chinese independent refiners.
The interception follows President Donald Trump’s announcement of a “blockade” of sanctioned Venezuelan tankers. A White House spokesperson stated that the vessel was “falsely flagged” and part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet.
The Venezuelan government also criticized the US action, labeling the seizure as a “serious act of international piracy.” China is the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, which accounts for about 4 percent of its total imports.
