US seizures of oil tankers slammed at UN meeting

The seizure of oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela by the United States and its continuing destruction of boats in the Caribbean were criticized on Tuesday at the United Nations Security Council.

"Under the pretext of combating drug-trafficking, the United States has continued to increase its military deployment in the waters of the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela," said Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council briefing.

"It has escalated sanctions, blockades and military threats against Venezuela, and claimed to have sunk Venezuelan vessels, shot dead crew members and seized oil tankers," Sun said.

"It has designated the Venezuelan government as a foreign terrorist organization, claimed that Venezuela's territory, oil and assets belong to the US, and even threatened military strikes against the Venezuelan territory. The US actions and rhetoric have led to continued tensions in the region, raising serious concerns among regional countries and the international community."

The US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Dec 10, then a second tanker on Saturday, both of which it claimed were transporting sanctioned oil.

Venezuela condemned the seizures as "a blatant theft and an act of international piracy", saying the act would not go unpunished.

On Tuesday, Venezuela's parliament approved a measure that criminalizes a broad range of activities that can hinder navigation and commerce, such as the seizure of oil tankers.

The bill calls for fines and prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes, requests, supports, finances or participates in "acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts" against commercial entities operating with Venezuela.

It also instructs the executive branch to come up with "incentives and mechanisms for economic, commercial and other protections" for national or foreign entities doing business with Venezuela in the event of piracy activities, a maritime blockade or other unlawful acts.

US forces have since September launched strikes on boats that Washington claims, without providing evidence, were trafficking drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. More than 100 people have been killed — some of them fishers, according to their families and governments.

Threat to peace

"The US actions seriously infringe upon other countries' sovereignty, security and legitimate rights and interests, seriously violate the UN Charter and international law, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean," Sun said. "China opposes all acts of unilateralism and bullying, and supports all countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity," he added.

"We call on the US to heed the just call of the international community, immediately halt relevant actions, and avoid further escalation of tensions," Sun said.

"We urge the US to uphold the navigation safety of regional countries and the freedom and rights they enjoy under international law, to conduct normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation under bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks, to lift illicit unilateral sanctions, and to do more to promote peace, stability and development in Latin America and the Caribbean."

Agencies contributed to this story.