China has voiced a strong rebuke of the United States’ recent threat of military action in Nigeria, urging Washington to respect sovereignty and avoid using religion or human-rights arguments as justification for force.
U.S. President Donald Trump, citing what he described as widespread killing of Christians in Nigeria, announced that he had instructed the Pentagon to prepare for “possible action” if the Nigerian government did not act swiftly. He wrote that the United States might go into the country “guns-a-blazing” and would stop all U.S. aid if violence persisted.
In response, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, speaking at a Beijing press briefing, asserted that Beijing “firmly supports the Nigerian government” and insists no country should interfere in other nations’ internal affairs “under the pretext of religion or human rights”. She added that China opposed “wanton threats” of force or sanctions.
Beijing’s statement reflects its strategic partnership with Nigeria and signals a broader diplomatic stance against unilateral interventions. China and Nigeria share significant economic and development ties, and the Chinese government emphasized that every country has the right to choose its development path without external pressure.
The U.S. assertion that Nigeria — a country roughly evenly split between Christian and Muslim populations — is failing to protect a specific religious group has stirred controversy. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected the claim, insisting Nigeria remains committed to religious pluralism and the constitutional protection of all citizens regardless of faith.
Analysts say the incident underscores a tightening of global diplomatic alignments. The U.S. threat elevates a domestic U.S. political issue — the protection of Christians abroad — into a potential foreign policy gambit, while China’s reaction reaffirms its model of non-interference and support for partner nations’ sovereignty.
As tensions mount, attention now turns to how Nigeria will respond and whether U.S.–Nigeria cooperation in security, aid and diplomacy will be affected. For China, the episode offers an opportunity to deepen its influence in Nigeria and further promote its stance against foreign coercion.
Africa Digital News, New YorkÂ
