During a press conference this Tuesday (7), China once again defended the suspension of sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela and stated that it will continue to expand assistance to the country after the earthquake. In response to Brazil in factForeign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning reinforced Beijing’s position that restrictions hamper recovery efforts.
“We urge the United States to lift illegal unilateral sanctions against Venezuela to create favorable conditions for post-disaster reconstruction work. We hope that the international community will strengthen coordination and cooperation and continue providing assistance to the Venezuelan government and people so that they can overcome this disaster and rebuild their homes as soon as possible,” he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning criticized the maintenance of the measures and stated that they create obstacles to the country’s recovery. For Beijing, a country hit by a natural disaster must have guaranteed access to resources and international support without political restrictions. China argues that the moment requires solidarity and cooperation, and not the maintenance of economic measures that, according to the Chinese government, penalize the Venezuelan population.
Sanctions increase challenges for the reconstruction of Venezuela
In addition to the damage caused by the earthquake, Venezuela faces the additional challenge of economic sanctions imposed by the United States, which for years have restricted the country’s access to financial resources, commercial operations and international markets.
The measures were expanded from 2019, when Washington imposed sanctions against the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), hitting the country’s main foreign revenue generating sector. The restrictions also affected Venezuelan companies and institutions that depend on international financial operations, making it difficult to acquire equipment, technology and products needed for different areas of the economy.
Even in the face of the emergency caused by the earthquake, the flexibility announced by the United States was limited. Washington authorized some transactions related to humanitarian assistance, but maintained the general structure of sanctions against Venezuela.
Chinese aid
In response to a question from Brazil in fact During the June 29 press conference, another Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, announced that Beijing would allocate 100 million yuan (about $15 million) in emergency aid to Venezuela. According to him, the resources would be used to send essential supplies to support relief operations and recovery efforts in the areas hit by the earthquake.
Answering a new question from Brazil in fact at the conference this Tuesday (7), Mao Ning reported that the first batch of Chinese aid has already arrived in Venezuela.
“Yesterday, the first batch of 80 tons of aid supplies from the Chinese government — including electrical generators, water purification equipment, tents and blankets — arrived in Venezuela on a charter flight,” the spokeswoman said.
The cargo included 20 power generators, eight water purification units, 200 disinfection equipment, 200 solar lighting sets, more than 1,700 tents and more than 6,700 blankets, intended to support rescue operations and temporary shelter for people affected by the earthquake.
According to Mao Ning, the Chinese Red Cross also participated in the relief efforts. “The Chinese Red Cross provided US$300,000 in emergency financial aid to the Venezuelan Red Cross,” he said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry representative added that the Chinese government also provided satellite images of the areas affected by the disaster, used to assist in monitoring and responding to the consequences of the earthquake.
At the press conference, Mao Ning also highlighted the participation of companies and associations from the Chinese community in Venezuela in emergency work, providing “a large amount of machinery, equipment and food”.
According to data from the Chinese Embassy in Venezuela, Chinese companies operating in the country have already donated more than 115 tons of supplies, including food, drinking water, basic necessities, construction equipment, medicines and medical materials. New shipments were planned to expand assistance. The companies also mobilized engineering equipment and technical teams to support rescue work, including cranes, excavators, containers and emergency generators.
The Chinese community living in Venezuela also organized a solidarity campaign, gathering hundreds of tons of aid materials, including water, food and basic items for families affected by the earthquake.
When commenting on the continuity of assistance, Mao Ning stated that Beijing will continue to monitor the situation. “China is willing to continue providing further support and assistance as the disaster situation in Venezuela evolves,” the spokeswoman said.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
