President,

China supports the convening of this emergency meeting of the Council, and thanks Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for the briefing. 

Lately, in the name of combating drug trafficking, the United States has deployed forces in the Caribbean waters off the coast of Venezuela and claimed to have sunk Venezuelan vessels, shot dead sailors, and intercepted and seized Venezuelan fishing boats, resulting in continued tensions in the region. The US unilateral and excessive enforcement operations against other country’s vessels in so-called international waters infringe on relevant personnel’s right to life and other basic human rights. They pose a threat to the freedom and security of navigation in relevant waters, and can potentially undermine countries’ freedom of high sea enjoyed in accordance with law. These acts severely infringe on other countries’ sovereignty, security, and lawful rights and interests,  gravely violate international law, and threaten regional peace and security. We are deeply concerned about this situation and will closely follow the developments.

China opposes any act that violates the purposes and principles of UN Charter and other countries’ sovereignty and security. We oppose the use or threat of force in international relations, and oppose the interference of external forces in Venezuela’s internal affairs under any pretext. We urge the US to immediately cease relevant acts to avoid further escalation of the situation, and urge it not to use the excuse of combating drug trafficking to jeopardize countries’ navigational security and the freedom and rights they enjoy under international law. China has always supported efforts to combat transnational crimes through stronger international cooperation, and calls on the US to conduct normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation under bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks. 

President, 

Latin American and Caribbean countries are independent sovereign states. In 2014, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States declared the region a zone of peace. Recently, many countries in the region have voiced grave concerns about and strong condemnation of the US actions, calling on the international community to work together and urging the US to cease hostile activities and maintain peace in Latin America and the Caribbean. We hope that the US will heed the calls of regional countries and safeguard in earnest the peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Thank you, President.