China said that it rejects any nation claiming to be "the world's judge" after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

"We have never believed that any country can act as ‌the world's police, nor do we accept that any nation can claim to be the world's judge," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday, referring to "sudden developments in Venezuela" without directly mentioning the U.S., Reuters reported.

"The sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law," Wang added.

Over the weekend, the U.S. military captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, bringing them to New York City to face federal conspiracy, drugs, and weapons charges. They both pleaded not guilty to all the charges on Monday.

Also on Monday, the United Nations Security Council convened ⁠at Colombia's request – with the support of China and Russia – to debate President Trump's decision to seize Maduro, a move that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned could set "a dangerous precedent."

"The lessons of history offer ‍a stark warning," said Sun Lei, the charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the UN. "Military means are not the solution to problems, and the indiscriminate use of force will only lead to greater crises."

On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all countries to abide by international law and the UN principles, saying that major powers should set an example, while stopping short ⁠of naming the U.S. or Venezuela.

China and Venezuela are close allies, and the former purchased around $1.6 billion ⁠worth of goods from the latter in 2024, the latest full-year figures available, according to Chinese customs data.