Beijing warns Washington against misusing drug trafficking efforts to compromise global security
On September 15, 2025, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned U.S. actions that he claims “seriously undermine the sovereignty, security and legitimate rights and interests of other countries, and violate international law,” reports 24brussels.
His remarks followed accusations from the Venezuelan government that the U.S. destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) illegally boarded a Venezuelan fishing vessel on September 12, detaining eight fishermen for eight hours while operating in Venezuelan waters.
Lin urged the United States “not to use the fight against drug trafficking as an excuse to undermine the economic security of all countries and the freedoms and rights they enjoy under international law.” He emphasized that China supports international cooperation in combatting cross-border crime and opposes the unilateral and excessive use of force, especially in Venezuelan internal affairs.
The incident has escalated tensions, with Venezuelan authorities asserting that the boarding of the fishing vessel was part of a broader strategy intended to justify military escalation in the Caribbean. Venezuelan officials characterized the fishermen as “humble tuna fishermen sailing 48 nautical miles from La Blanquilla Island, in waters belonging to Venezuela’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).”
President Nicolas Maduro denounced the U.S. actions as indicative of a “shameful behavior of political sectors in Washington that irresponsibly commit extremely costly military resources and highly trained soldiers as instruments to manufacture pretexts for warlike adventures.”
Sparking further concern, the U.S. has heightened its military presence in the region, deploying a nuclear-powered submarine and eight missile-equipped warships near Venezuela since August. In addition, ten F-35 fighter jets have been dispatched to an air base in Puerto Rico, leading Venezuelan authorities to interpret these maneuvers as provocative steps toward potential regime change.
The incident and its implications highlight complex geopolitical dynamics, where actions in one region reverberate across international relations, particularly concerning U.S.-China-Venezuela interactions.
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