By Ọmọsọla Olumide
China has voiced strong support for Nigeria amid rising diplomatic tension sparked by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention over alleged persecution of Christians in the country.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing’s stance, stating that China “firmly supports the Nigerian government as it leads its people on a development path suited to its national conditions.”
Responding to questions on Trump’s comments, Ning stressed that China “firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as a pretext to interfere in another nation’s internal affairs or threaten force or sanctions,” adding that Nigeria remains a key strategic partner to China.
The reaction comes after Trump, over the weekend, instructed the U.S. Department of Defense to “prepare for possible action” in Nigeria, claiming Christians in the country were facing targeted attacks. He warned that Washington could “go into Nigeria guns-a-blazing” if the government failed to act, further describing the country as “disgraced.”
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well intervene militarily,” Trump said. “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Nigeria has strongly rejected Trump’s assertions. In a statement, President Bola Tinubu dismissed the claims as unfounded, insisting that Nigeria remains committed to protecting religious freedom.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our reality,” Tinubu said. “Freedom of religion and mutual tolerance are fundamental to who we are as a nation.”
China’s position marks the first major international endorsement for Nigeria following Trump’s controversial threat. The Nigerian presidency has indicated that Tinubu and Trump are expected to meet soon, although no specific date has been confirmed.
No comments:
Post a Comment