ISTANBUL 

China on Sunday urged the US to “stop toppling” the government of Venezuela, and called for the release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife “at once.”

“China expresses grave concern over the U.S. forcibly seizing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

“The U.S.’s move is in clear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” the spokesperson added, according to a statement on the Foreign Ministry website.

This is the second statement issued by Beijing since Saturday, after US President Donald Trump said Washington had captured Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the country.

“China calls on the U.S. to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation,” the spokesperson added.

Earlier on Saturday, Beijing slammed the US for “hegemonic acts” and “blatant use of force” against Venezuela and its president, urging Washington to abide by the UN Charter.

On Saturday, Venezuela’s government accused the US of attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states and declared ‌a national ‌emergency.

US President Donald Trump later confirmed the "large-scale" strike, adding that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been "captured and flown out of the country."

The attacks came after months of growing US pressure on Maduro, who Washington accuses of being involved in drug trafficking. The Venezuelan leader had denied the claims and expressed readiness for talks.