China will not accept countries acting as ‘world judge’ – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Venezualan operation

China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi has said Beijing cannot accept any country acting as the “world’s judge” following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States. 

Beijing is set to confront Washington at the United Nations over the move's legality.

Beijing follows a policy of non-intervention and routinely criticises military activity conducted without the UN Security Council's approval.

The US military's removal of the leader of one of China's "all-weather" strategic partners from his capital in the dead of night will be a litmus test of Beijing's assertion that it can play a role in resolving global hotspot issues without following Washington down the military route.

"We have never believed that any country can act as the world's police, nor do we accept that any nation can claim to be the world's judge," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Pakistani counterpart during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday, referring to "sudden developments in Venezuela" without directly mentioning the United States.

"The sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law," Wang added, in his first remarks since images of the 63-year-old Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed on Saturday stunned the world.

Maduro is scheduled to appear in a New York court on Monday to face drugs charges. 

Just blocks away, the UN Security Council will convene at Colombia's request - backed by China and Russia - to debate US President Donald Trump's decision to seize him, a move UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned could set "a dangerous precedent."