China criticizes US attacks on foreign vessels

China firmly opposes the United States' so-called law enforcement operations against vessels of other countries that exceed reasonable and necessary limits, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday after the US announced it had sunk a vessel near the Venezuelan coast, killing six people on board.

Noting the US has also deployed warships and nuclear submarines in the Caribbean Sea, Lin said at a daily news briefing that China opposes the use or threat of force in international relations and rejects any interference by external forces in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext.

He added that China supports the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Latin America and the Caribbean signed by 33 regional countries, and opposes any actions that undermine peace and stability in the region.

"China has always supported strengthening international cooperation to combat transnational crime," Lin said, calling on the US to conduct normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation through relevant bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks.