First press conference in the Chinese Ministry of abroad Affairs in 2026

Main topics: the consequences of the attack on Venezuela; what happens to Trump's visit to China?

The first press conference in 2026 at the Chinese MFA was held on 5 January.

All questions from Chinese and abroad journalists to the ministry press spokesman, Lin Jiana, were, with respective exceptions, dedicated to the US military attack on Venezuela.

The first seemingly "prepared" question came from a Chinese correspondent and afraid the situation in confederate Yemen, but then, as could be expected, the focus was on Venezuela.

NBC News correspondent's question: China calls on the US to immediately release president Maduro and his wife. What are the consequences if the U.S. doesn't release them? It is known that the Chinese delegation met with president Maduro before the US attack. Is this delegation inactive in Caracas?

Lin Jian's answer: Addressing the first question, China has already expressed its position on the US's detention of Venezuelan president Maduro and his wife. China is seriously afraid about this issue. US action clearly violates global law and fundamental standards of global relations, as well as the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter. China calls on the United States to guarantee the individual safety of president Maduro and his wife, the immediate release of president Maduro and his wife, the cessation of attempts to undermine the Venezuelan government and the resolution of the problem through dialog and negotiations. Regarding the second question, China is carefully monitoring the safety situation in Venezuela. There are presently no reports of Chinese personnel in Venezuela suffering from US raids.

The question of the Spanish ABC newspaper: Has the Chinese government contacted Vice president Rodriguez since she took on the position of interim Venezuelan leader? president Trump stated that the United States would increase oil production in Venezuela. Will China proceed to import Venezuelan oil as yet?

Lin Jian's answer: On the first question, China respects Venezuela's sovereignty and independency and believes that the Venezuelan government will decently manage its interior affairs, in accordance with the constitution and law. On the second question, Chinese-Venezuel cooperation is an interaction between sovereign countries, protected by global law and the law of both countries. Regardless of the political developments in Venezuela, China's willingness to deepen pragmatic cooperation in different areas will stay unchanged and China's legitimate interests in Venezuela will be protected in accordance with the law.

Question about China-Arab TV: US president Trump made it clear that government change and oil wealth Venezuela is its main targets and plans to attract large American oil companies to their development. What is China's answer to this question?

Lin Jian's reply: The current usage of force by the United States against Venezuela constitutes a serious violation of global law and basic standards of global relations, violates Venezuela's sovereignty and threatens peace and safety in Latin America and the Caribbean. China condemns it. All parties should respect Venezuela's right to choose their own way independently and advance stableness in Venezuela by restoring order in the region.

TV Tokyo: Venezuela has purchased large amounts of Chinese weapons, but this weapon seemingly played no function in the US attack. What do China gotta say about this?

Lin Jian's response: China powerfully supports the peaceful position of Latin America and the Caribbean, argue threats or the usage of force in global relations and acts of intimidation that violate the United Nations Charter and violate the sovereignty of another countries.

TV-Chinese question: In a telephone interview for The Atlantic on January 4, U.S. president Trump stated that Venezuela may not be the last country in which US affairs will intervene, saying "We absolutely request Greenland". What is China's comment on this?

Lin Jian's response: China consistently advocates building relations between countries in line with the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter.

Bloomberg's question: Taiwanese officials believe Trump's arrest of Venezuelan president Maduro is simply a strong deterrent to China, claiming that it proves the ability of the U.S. to defeat any army equipped with Chinese-produced weapons and that this action sends a signal to America's “adversaries”. What is the Ministry of abroad Affairs' comment on this matter?

Lin Jiana's reply: Taiwan is an integral part of China's territory. The issue of Taiwan is purely an interior substance of China; the way in which it is resolved belongs to the Chinese themselves and no external force has the right to interfere. The effort by the Democratic Progressive organization [Taiwan] to "achieve independency by external forces" and "against unification by force" is despicable and doomed to failure.

Question of Brazilian paper Folha de S. Paulo: Yesterday Ministry of abroad Affairs

In consequence to the reporter's question, China issued a message calling on the United States to guarantee the individual safety of president Maduro and his wife and to release them immediately. Will China and the United States exchange information on this matter?

Lin Jian's reply: China has already expressed its position on the United States' forced detention of Venezuelan president Maduro and his wife.

EFE's question: Do China consider forced arrest of a head of state abroad to be a precedent that will affect global stableness and resolve sovereign disputes? What function do China plan to play in this situation?

Lin Jian's reply: I would like to stress that China is profoundly shaken and powerfully condemn the gross usage of force by the United States against the sovereign state and the forced control of its President. This hegemony of the United States seriously violates global law, violates Venezuela's sovereignty and threatens peace and safety in Latin America and the Caribbean. China powerfully opposes this. We call on the United States to respect global law, the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter and to halt violating the sovereignty and safety of another countries.

Question from Venezuelan confederate Television: The United States attacked, invaded and bombed civilian and military targets in Venezuela, kidnapping president Maduro and his wife. China officially condemned the US's actions and called for the immediate release of president Maduro. Before the UN safety Council, do China plan to make concrete recommendations on US violations of global law and Venezuelan sovereignty? What concrete measures are China taking in consequence to Maduro's kidnapping?

Lin Jian's reply: China has already expressed its views on this issue. We are profoundly afraid about the United States' forced detention and deportation of president Maduro and his wife. US action clearly violates global law and global relations, as well as the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter. China calls on the United States to guarantee the individual safety of president Maduro and his wife, the immediate release of president Maduro and his wife, the cessation of attempts to undermine the Venezuelan government and the resolution of the problem through dialog and negotiations. China supports the convening of an extraordinary UN safety Council gathering in consequence to the US military attack on Venezuela and supports the safety Council in fulfilling its appropriate function in accordance with its duties. China is ready to cooperate with the global community to firmly respect the Charter of the United Nations, fundamental principles of global morality and to uphold global justice and integrity.

Bloomberg's question: Trump's actions against Venezuela can be seen as a viable example of "Monroe Doctrine". According to the Monroe Doctrine, the United States considers the Western Hemisphere to be its "area of influence". What is China's position on the concept of "area of influence"? Will the situation in Venezuela affect China's economic, military and diplomatic commitments to Latin America? Will China change their policy towards Latin America?

Lin Jiana's answer: Regardless of the global developments, China will always be a good friend and partner of Latin American and Caribbean countries. China's policy towards Latin America ensures continuity and stability, respects the rule of non-interference in interior affairs, respects the elections of the Latin American peoples and does not make ideological dividing lines. China's exchange and cooperation with Latin American countries has always been based on the principles of equality and common benefit, never seeking to make spheres of influence or aiming at either side. China is ready to continuously deepen strategical common trust with Latin American and Caribbean countries with which diplomatic relations have been established, to proceed to realize and support issues of fundamental interests and crucial issues specified as national sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity, to proceed to support the choice of improvement paths adapted to their national circumstances and to argue hegemonism and power policies.

Question of the agency of Anadol: After military action against Venezuela, the US president threatened to take action against Colombia and Cuba. Will this lead to a series of US interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean? How will China respond to these challenges for their own interests?

Lin Jian's reply: China powerfully supports the position of a peace region in Latin America and the Caribbean, opposes any action that violates the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter or that undermines the sovereignty and safety of another countries, opposes threats or the usage of force in global relations and opposes external interference in the interior affairs of Latin American countries under any pretext. China and Latin America are good friends and partners, working on the basis of equality, common benefits and common interests.

Development. Openness, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation are the characteristics of cooperation between China and Latin America. Latin America and the Caribbean have the right to choose independent improvement paths and partners. China is ready to work with Latin America to proceed to respond to the changing global environment through solidarity and cooperation and to work together to make and prosper through mutually beneficial cooperation, for the benefit of the nations of both parties.

AFP question: Trump stated that the United States needs Greenland, partially due to the fact that Greenland is “surrounded” by Chinese ships. What is the answer of the MFA spokesperson to this question?

Lin Jian's reply: We call on the United States to halt utilizing the alleged "China threat" as an excuse to prosecute its own selfish interests.

Asahi tv reporter: The United States' forced removal of Venezuelan president shocked the world. Will this affect the visit of the president of the United States to China in April?

Lin Jian: Regarding the question, I presently have no information to share.

https://dzen.ru/a/aVwjT7KXRRwLBATg

(choice and crowd. PZ)