China voices support Venezuela amid US blockade, but makes no aid pledges

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BEIJING, Dec 17 - China opposed what it said was unilateral bullying after Washington ordered a blockade of tankers entering and leaving oil-rich Venezuela, but did not say exactly how it would come to the South American countrys aid or offer any refuge for its embattled leader.

Earlier this week, U.S. ‍President Donald ​Trump ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers attempting to leave Venezuelan ‍waters, and those arriving, as Washington massed troops and warships in the region.

China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude, which accounts for roughly 4% of ​its imports, with ​shipments in December on track to average more than 600,000 barrels per day, analysts have said.

Beijing opposes all forms of unilateral bullying and supports countries in safeguarding their sovereignty and national dignity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil on a ‍phone call on Wednesday.

Wang did not name the United States or Trump in the official readout of the call. Wang also did not ​elaborate on the form or extent of the support that ⁠China might or could offer to Venezuela, with which Beijing previously said it had forged an ironclad friendship.

The U.S. is squeezing Venezuelas principal source of revenue in its attempt to target terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking, according to Trump. Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard seized an oil tanker off the coast of ​Venezuela.

President Nicolas Maduro has said the U.S. wants the OPEC nations crude oil resources, and the military build-up was to overthrow him. In an interview with Politico, ‌Trump said Maduros days were numbered.

For years, China has extended credit ​lines to Venezuela under loans-for-oil deals.