China has voiced strong support for Nigeria amid escalating diplomatic tensions with the United States, urging the global community to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and avoid interference under the guise of human rights advocacy.
At a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, the Spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to its strategic partnership with Nigeria, praising President Bola Tinubu’s administration for steering the country along a development path “that aligns with its own national realities.”
The statement, published on the website of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, comes just days after U.S.
President Donald Trump warned that Washington might deploy military action if Nigeria failed to halt what he described as “the killing of Christians” — comments that have triggered global reactions and a strong rebuke from Abuja.
Mao Ning made it clear that Beijing opposes the use of religion or human rights narratives as political weapons against sovereign nations, noting that such approaches destabilise international relations and violate the UN Charter.
“As Nigeria’s strategic partner, China opposes any attempt by foreign powers to use religion or human rights as a pretext to meddle in another country’s internal affairs or impose sanctions and military threats,” she said.
Her remarks underscore China’s growing diplomatic presence in Africa and its longstanding insistence on non-interference, a principle that has defined Beijing’s foreign policy engagements on the continent.
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China and Nigeria have maintained close ties across trade, infrastructure, security cooperation and cultural exchange.
Beijing has invested heavily in Nigerian rail lines, power projects, and digital infrastructure, while Nigeria remains one of China’s largest African partners.
Nigeria, for its part, has repeatedly rejected claims of Christian persecution, insisting that insecurity affects citizens across religious and ethnic lines. Defence and intelligence officials have described the U.S. narrative as misleading and exaggerated.
The tension heightened last week when Trump posted a strongly worded message on his Truth Social platform, accusing Nigeria of allowing “Christian genocide” and threatening military action.
The post triggered widespread reactions, with Nigeria’s government labelling the claims “unfounded” and warning against foreign hysteria.
China’s intervention represents one of the strongest statements of support yet from a major power, signalling its readiness to counterbalance U.S. pressure and reinforce Nigeria’s diplomatic standing.
Punch
