BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Reuters): China sharply criticized the United States on Monday after American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise military raid in Caracas.

U.S. troops carried out the operation late on January 3-4, 2026, detaining Maduro and his wife before flying them to New York, where the Venezuelan leader now faces serious drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s government to ensure an “orderly transition,” stating that costs would eventually be recovered from the country’s oil reserves.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded firmly during a meeting in Beijing: “We have never believed that any country can act as the world’s police, nor do we accept that any nation can claim to be the world’s judge.”

Wang stressed that every country’s sovereignty and security must be respected under international law, referring to the “sudden developments in Venezuela.”

China’s foreign ministry went further, labelling the action “hegemonic behaviour” that violates international norms and threatens stability in Latin America and the Caribbean. Beijing has demanded Maduro’s immediate release.

The raid is seen as a major setback for China, which maintains a close “all-weather strategic partnership” with Venezuela, purchases large volumes of its crude oil, and has invested heavily in the country.

The capture came just hours after Maduro met with a senior Chinese diplomat, underscoring the blow to Beijing’s influence in the region.

The incident has triggered strong international reactions, with several governments condemning the violation of Venezuelan sovereignty while others have welcomed the move against Maduro’s administration.