China has declared firm support for Nigeria’s government amid threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to launch military action over alleged persecution of Christians.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Mao Ning, spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said China “firmly supports the Nigerian government as it leads its people on a development path suited to its national conditions.”
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China opposes any country using religion or human rights as a pretext to interfere in other nations’ internal affairs or to threaten them with sanctions or force,” Mao said.
Her remarks came in response to Trump’s recent comments ordering the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action” in Nigeria, accusing the government of allowing “the killing of Christians.”
Trump had warned that the U.S. would halt all aid to Nigeria and could “go in guns blazing” if the alleged killings continued, describing Nigeria as a “disgraced country.”
In a separate response to questions about Venezuela’s reported request for military assistance from China, Russia, and Iran, Mao said Beijing “supports combating cross-border crimes through international cooperation” but “opposes the use or threat of force in international relations.”
“China stands against actions that undermine peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean, and opposes unilateral enforcement operations against other countries’ vessels,” she added.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of a Christian genocide. President Bola Tinubu recently reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, saying:
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality. Religious freedom and tolerance have been core tenets of our collective identity and shall always remain so.”
