China warns against interference in Nigeria’s affairs after US threat of military action
China on Tuesday voiced strong support for the Nigerian government’s right to pursue a development path tailored to its own national conditions and warned against outside intervention justified by religion or human-rights claims.
At a regular briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China which describes Nigeria as a comprehensive strategic partner — “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.” Her remarks came after US President Donald Trump publicly threatened military action in Nigeria over allegations of persecution of Christians.
Ning also addressed reports that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has sought military equipment from China, Russia and Iran amid concerns about potential US actions. She reiterated China’s opposition to unilateral use or threat of force in international relations and emphasized the need for legal, multilateral approaches to cross-border crime.
“China supports the effort of combating cross-border crimes through stronger international cooperation, and opposes using or threatening to use force in international relations,” Ning said. “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.”
President Trump on Saturday called on the US “department of war” to prepare for “possible action” in Nigeria and warned that Washington could halt aid and even intervene militarily if the Nigerian government failed to stop attacks on Christians. In a forceful statement, he described Nigeria as a “disgraced country” and said: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
China’s comments signal a clear pushback against any foreign coercive measures, while calling for cooperation under established legal frameworks rather than unilateral enforcement — a stance that underscores Beijing’s broader diplomatic emphasis on sovereignty and non-interference.
