ISTANBUL

China on Thursday slammed "unilateral sanctions," which have no backing of the UN, and said it opposes the "arbitrary" seizure of vessels by the US.

The US move of “arbitrarily” seizing other countries' vessels in the high seas “seriously violates international law,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

China “opposes illicit and unilateral sanctions” and opposes moves that infringe upon the sovereignty and security of other countries, said Mao.

US forces announced Wednesday the seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, previously known as M/V Bella 1, in the North Atlantic Ocean for “violations of US sanctions.”

The US Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense coordinated the seizure, the US military's Southern Command said on US social media company X.

The operation was conducted "pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC (US Coast Guard Cutter) Munro," it added.

"The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in full effect — anywhere in the world," Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the ship was “sailing in the international waters of the North Atlantic under the state flag of the Russian Federation and in full compliance with the norms of international maritime law,” warning that it was receiving “clearly disproportionate attention.”

Venezuela has condemned US actions as "international piracy."