The People’s Republic of China on Tuesday warned the United States to stay off the internal affairs of Nigeria saying use of religion or ethnicity to dabble in Africa’s most populous country is unacceptable.
China says it supports the Nigerian government as it “leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions”.
While speaking with journalists in Beijing, Mao Ning, spokesperson of China’s foreign ministry, said “as Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force”.
Ning, while responding to a question on US President Donald Trump’s threat of military action in the African country, was also responding to the report that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is seeking military equipment from China, Russia, and Iran to prepare for possible attacks by the US.
China has a clear-cut stance on the US cracking down on so-called ‘drug cartels’ by force in the Caribbean Sea,” Ming said.
“China supports the effort of combating cross-border crimes through stronger international cooperation, and opposes using or threatening to use force in international relations.
“We stand against moves that undermine peace and stability in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, and oppose unilateral and excessive ‘enforcement operations’ against other countries’ vessels. We hope the U.S. will engage in normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation through bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks.”
China’s stance came amidst growing concerns over threats by Trump to activate military action in Nigeria.
He had alleged that Christians have been killed over a long period of time adding that the slaughtering must stop.
However the Nigerian government had told Trump that though there have been killings it was never targeted at Christians.
Trump had equally described Nigeria as a “disgraced country.”