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Trouble looms as China defies US moves on Venezuela

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Trouble looms as China defies US moves on Venezuela

A move by US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido to bring in much needed aid into Venezuela in defiance of President Nicolas Maduro’s government order has been condemned by China.

According to China’s Foreign Ministry which opposed military intervention in the country, humanitarian aid should not be forced into Venezuela, lest it will cause violence.

Speaking at a daily news conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that the Venezuelan government had “remained calm and exercised restraint”, effectively preventing large-scale clashes.

“If so-called aid material is forced into Venezuela, and then if it causes violence and clashes, it will have serious consequences. This is not something anyone wants to see,” Geng said.

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“China opposes military intervention in Venezuela, and opposes any actions causing tensions or even unrest,” he said.

Maduro had said he was also considering a “total closure of the border with Colombia” where he has already ordered the military to barricade a major border bridge to prevent aid from entering the country from Cucuta, Colombia.

In a televised address, Maduro called the aid a “provocation” and “child’s game”, suggesting the aid is a precursor for a US military intervention in the oil-rich, but economically crippled Latin American country.

“[The US] aimed to generate a huge national mess, but they didn’t succeed. The country wants peace,” he said, surrounded by members of the military.

It is also worthy of not that embattled Maduro retains the backing of both Russia and China.

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