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Venezuelan oil: China says US violating international law

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Jörg Jelinnek | Chiponda Chimbelu
December 22, 2025

The US has imposed a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers and warned of a more substantial US military presence in the region. China, a big importer of Venezuelan oil, says the US is violating international law.

US seizure of a sanctioned tanker off Venezuela has escalated tensions, prompting China to accuse the Trump administration of violating international law. Multiple oil ships now remain in Venezuelan waters as the US links its military buildup to long‑running disputes over oil nationalization and compensation.

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