The Chinese Foreign Ministry has condemned the United States’ interception of a Venezuelan oil tanker destined for China as a severe violation of international law. The incident occurred in international waters off the coast of Barbados, where U.S. Coast Guard officials seized the Panamanian-flagged vessel ‘Centuries’ carrying approximately 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil.
Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian declared during a regular press briefing that Venezuela maintains the sovereign right to develop relationships with other nations, emphasizing China’s opposition to all ‘unilateral and illegal’ sanctions. The statement came in response to Washington’s recent interception operations targeting vessels transporting Venezuelan oil.
The seized tanker had allegedly been operating under the false name ‘Crag’ and was transporting crude purchased by Satau Tijana Oil Trading, one of several intermediaries involved in selling oil from Venezuela’s state-owned PDVSA to independent Chinese refineries. A White House representative characterized the vessel as part of Venezuela’s ‘shadow fleet’ transporting sanctioned oil.
Venezuelan authorities have denounced the seizure as an ‘act of international piracy,’ marking the second such interception within days following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive blockade against sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters.
China remains Venezuela’s largest crude oil customer, accounting for approximately 4% of China’s total oil imports, making these developments particularly significant for energy relations between the two nations.