ISTANBUL

China on Saturday slammed the US for “hegemonic acts” against Venezuela and its President Nicolas Maduro, referring to military strikes and the leader's capture, urging Washington to abide by the UN Charter.

“China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

The remarks came after US President Donald Trump said Washington carried out a "large scale strike" against Venezuela, and that Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.

“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. China firmly opposes it,” the spokesperson said.

“We call on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier, Venezuela’s government said the US attacked civilian and military installations in multiple states, and declared ‌a national ‌emergency.

The attacks came after months of tension, as the US accused Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking. Maduro denied being a cartel leader and had expressed readiness to hold talks.

Separately, China’s Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Venezuela advised citizens to temporarily refrain from traveling to the Caribbean country.

Chinese nationals and institutions in Venezuela are advised to closely monitor the local security situation, strengthen safety precautions and emergency preparedness, and avoid unnecessary outings, a statement said.