January 4, 2026 | 06:49 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malaysia and China are calling for the United States to immediately release Venezuelan Nicolas Maduro and his wife, after they were captured in a U.S. military operation early Saturday local time.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a statement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday, January 4, 2026, stated that the arrest of Maduro was a blatant violation of international law.
“I have followed developments in Venezuela with grave concern. The leader of Venezuela and his wife were seized in a United States military operation of unusual scope and nature,” Anwar said, as quoted by Antara.
"Such actions constitute a clear violation of international law and amount to an unlawful use of force against a sovereign state. President Maduro and his wife must be released without any undue delay," he emphasized.
Anwar believes that, whatever the reasons, the forced removal of a sitting head of state through "external action" has created a dangerous precedent.
He stressed that such actions erode fundamental limits on the use of power between countries and undermine the legal framework that underpins the international order.
"It is for the people of Venezuela to determine their own political future. As history has shown, abrupt changes in leadership brought about through external force will bring more harm than good, what more in a country already grappling with prolonged economic hardship and deep social strain," he said.
He emphasized that Malaysia regards respect for international law and national sovereignty as "paramount to peaceful relations between states."
China Strongly Condemns Washington's Attacks
In a separate statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, as reported by The Hindu on Sunday, also made similar demands, urging the U.S. to resolve the situation in Venezuela through dialogue and negotiation.
Beijing stated in a statement on its official website that the United States must also ensure the personal safety of Maduro and his wife, stating that their deportation violates international law and norms.
“China calls on the U.S. to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, calling the attack a "clear violation of international law."
The day before, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the blatant use of force by the United States against Venezuela and its president, Nicolas Maduro.
"China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the U.S.'s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said China urged the United States to abide by international law and stop violations of the sovereignty and security of other countries.
"We call on the U.S. to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security," the ministry said.
It added that the U.S.'s hegemonic acts seriously violate international law, infringe on the sovereignty of Venezuela, and threaten peace and security in the Latin American region.
Read: How U.S. Strikes Threaten Venezuela's Oil-Forward Economy
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