The Chinese government has expressed firm support for Nigeria and cautioned against any form of foreign interference following a recent threat by the United States to take military action against the country.
At a press briefing held on Tuesday in Beijing, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, reaffirmed China’s backing for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. She noted that Nigeria has the right to determine its own development path in line with its national interests and internal policies.
According to a statement published on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, China called on the international community to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and avoid actions that could disrupt its peace or stability.
The reaction came after reports that the US government, under President Donald Trump, had warned of possible military intervention over alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
China, which maintains a strong strategic partnership with Nigeria, stated that it opposes any attempt by foreign nations to use religion or human rights concerns as grounds to interfere in the domestic affairs of another country.
Beijing’s position reinforces its long-standing diplomatic stance on respecting national sovereignty while deepening political and economic cooperation with African nations, including Nigeria.