Photo: China Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Lin Jian

In response to media reports about US deploying military forces near Venezuela under the pretext of combating Latin American drug trafficking groups, including seizing one of Venezuela's fishing vessels, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that the actions taken by the US led to continued tensions in the region, threatened regional peace and security, severely violated the sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights of other countries, and contravened international law.

Since August this year, the US has deployed warships, nuclear submarines, and other military forces in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela under the pretext of combating Latin American drug trafficking groups, according to media reports. Recently, Venezuela announced that a US destroyer illegally intercepted, boarded, and detained a Venezuelan fishing vessel in its exclusive economic zone. 

In a statement on Saturday, Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vessel, carrying nine "humble" and "harmless" fishermen, was intercepted by the US destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) on Friday, Al Jazeera reported.

Commenting on the matter, Lin said the US, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, has recently deployed military forces in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, claiming to have sunk Venezuelan vessels, killed crew members, and intercepted and seized Venezuelan fishing vessels, leading to continued tensions in the region. 

"These actions by the US have threatened regional peace and security, severely violated the sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights of other countries, and contravened international law," Lin said.

"China consistently supports strengthening international cooperation to combat transnational crime but opposes the unilateral abuse of force and external interference in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext," Lin noted, urging the US not to undermine navigational safety or the freedoms and rights enjoyed under international law, nor to disrupt regional peace and stability, under the guise of combating drug trafficking.

Global Times