China has cautioned the United States against interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs, following threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to launch military action over alleged persecution of Christians.
Speaking during a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Nigeria’s sovereignty and condemned the use of religion or human rights as a pretext for coercive foreign policy.
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions or force,” Mao said.
She added that China “firmly supports the Nigerian government as it leads its people on a development path suited to its national conditions.”
Her comments came in response to Trump’s recent warning that the U.S. could “go into Nigeria guns-a-blazing” if the Nigerian government fails to stop what he called the “killing of Christians.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action,” claiming the United States might “completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists” responsible for the attacks.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’” Trump wrote.
Meanwhile, Mao also addressed reports that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was seeking military assistance from China, Russia, and Iran amid fears of possible U.S. aggression.
“China opposes the use or threat of force in international relations,” she said. “We support combating cross-border crimes through stronger international cooperation, not unilateral military action.”
The Nigerian government, however, dismissed Trump’s claims of religious persecution, maintaining that Nigeria remains committed to protecting freedom of religion.
President Bola Tinubu responded firmly to the U.S. president’s comments, describing them as “inaccurate and unfair.”
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said. “Religious freedom and tolerance are core tenets of our collective identity, and Nigeria does not condone or encourage persecution of any faith.”
