Beijing has demanded that Washington release the South American country's democratically elected president

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has slammed the US attack on Venezuela and capture of Nicolas Maduro, calling them "hegemonic."

On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will "run" the oil-rich South American nation, shortly after US forces swept into the country and abducted Maduro and his wife.

"China isdeeplyshocked by and strongly condemns the US's blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action againstits president," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement later in the day.

"Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region," it stated, demanding that Washington adhere to international law and the UN Charter.

The US regime-change operation came just hours after a Chinese delegation's visit to key partner Venezuela, led by President Xi Jinping's special envoy Qiu Xiaoqi. Beijing has not released a statement on the meeting, but Caracas said it served to strengthen a "multipolar world of development and peace" in the face of Western "unilateral coercive measures."

China and the heavily sanctioned South American nation have maintained a major "all-weather strategic partnership" since 2023, and inked an investment deal in 2024.

Following the US attack, Beijing echoed Moscow and condemned the "forcible seizure" of Maduro and his wife, and demanded their release.

In the Venezuelan leader's absence, the nation's Supreme Court has granted Vice President Delcy Rodriguez presidential powers.

Just prior to the decision, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called Rodriguez to voice Moscow's solidarity and support for the Venezuelan government's defense of the country's national interests and sovereignty. Both sides also expressed commitment to building on the bilateral strategic partnership agreement Moscow and Caracas signed last May.