China calls for talks, but Guaido prefers US intervention

BEIJING/CARACAS: China insists that peaceful dialogue and political means are the “only way” towards enduring peace in Venezuela, the foreign ministry said, adding that it backs multinational efforts to reach such an outcome.

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying’s statement came in response to a question about a meeting on Thursday of an “International Contact Group” led by Uruguay President Tabare Vazquez and attended by leaders of 14 countries.

China is a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to whom it has lent billions to help shore up his embattled regime.

Hua said China “believes that Venezuela’s affairs should be resolved by the Venezuelan people under the framework of its constitution and laws and through peaceful dialogue and political means. This is the only way towards enduring peace in the country.”

Venezuela’s self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido, however, refused to rule out on Friday the possibility of authorising US intervention to help force Maduro from power.

National Assembly leader Guaido told AFP he would do “everything that is necessary... to save human lives”, acknowledging that US intervention is “a very controversial subject”.

The opposition leader launched a bid to oust Maduro last month, declaring himself interim president, a move recognised by the US.