China blasted the administration of President Donald Trump on Monday over its seizure of another oil tankers as the United States continues its controversial military blockade of the Bolivar Republic.
“The U.S. practice of arbitrarily seizing other countries’ vessels grossly violates international law, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters during a regular press conference.
“Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, and we believe that the international community can understand and support Venezuela’s stance of defending its own legitimate rights and interests,” the official went on.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed in an X post the Coast Guard intercepted the tanker, said to have previously made a port call in Venezuela, on Saturday morning in a “pre-dawn action.” Newsweek reached out to the White House by email with a request for comment outside of office hours. It was the second seizure of an oil tanker since December 10, when U.S. forces intercepted the Skipper off the Caribbean coast.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said the Panama-flagged Centuries, was operating as part of a Venezuelan shadow fleet trafficking “stolen oil” in violation of U.S. sanctions on the country. She repeated the administration’s claim, without providing evidence, that Venezuelan oil is being used to fund “narco terrorism.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura has rejected this claim and said the U.S. pressure was intended to bring about regime change.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated with additional information.
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