US President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the bombing of what is purported to be a Venezuelan seacraft in the Caribbean Sea.

The craft was said to be transporting drugs, but no evidence to date has been presented.

Political tensions have escalated between Venezuela and the United States in recent weeks as President Trump has made it clear that he will be eliminating a number of Venezuelan sea vessels he deems to be transporting drugs.

The Trump administration is calling on Caribbean nations to support him against Venezuela as he tries to rid the region of its drug problem.

It’s reported that since August this year, under the excuse of cracking down on drug cartels in Latin America, the US deployed warships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the Caribbean and waters off the coast of Venezuela. Venezuela recently said that a U.S. destroyer illegally intercepted, boarded and detained a Venezuelan fishing boat in the country’s EEZ. 

In a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said: “Recently, in the name of of combating drug trafficking, the US has deployed forces in the waters of the Caribbean sea off Venezuela, and claimed to have sunk a Venezuelan vessel, shot dead sailors, and intercepted and detained a Venezuelan fishing boat, resulting in continued tensions in the region. The US’s moves threaten regional peace and security, severely infringe upon other countries’ sovereignty, security and lawful rights and interests, and seriously violate international law.”

China supports the effort of cracking down on transnational crimes through stronger international cooperation, opposes the unilateral abuse of force and is against external interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs under any pretext. We urge the US to stop undermining countries’ safety of navigation and their freedoms and rights enjoyed under international law, and stop disrupting regional peace and stability under the pretext of combating drug trafficking.