China Warns U.S. Against Interfering in Nigeria’s Affairs After Trump’s Military Threat‎

China Warns U.S. Against Interfering in Nigeria’s Affairs After Trump’s Military Threat‎

Abiola Adigun| Albarka 89.9 FM| Ilorin| November 4 2025

China has warned the United States against using religion or human rights as a pretext to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs, following threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to launch possible military action over alleged persecution of Christians in the West African country.
At a News Conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Beijing’s support for the Nigerian government, describing the two nations as “comprehensive strategic partners.”
“China firmly supports the Nigerian government as it leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions,” Ning said.
“We firmly oppose 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.”
Her comments came in response to questions about Trump’s remarks over the weekend, in which the U.S. leader accused Nigeria of allowing the “killing of Christians” and threatened to cut aid and potentially order military intervention.
In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, Trump directed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for what he called “possible action” in Nigeria, warning that Washington might “go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing.”
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria,” Trump wrote. “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Beijing’s rebuke adds a new diplomatic layer to the escalating tensions, as global powers react to Washington’s rhetoric. Ning also cautioned against the use of force in other regions, including Latin America and the Caribbean, stressing that China supports peaceful, multilateral cooperation to tackle international crimes.
“We oppose moves that undermine peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean,” she said. “The United States should engage through normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation, not unilateral or excessive operations.”
The Nigerian government has rejected Trump’s allegations of widespread religious persecution. President Bola Tinubu, responding to Washington’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” said the U.S. position “does not reflect our national reality.”
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity,” Tinubu said. “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
Analysts say the row underscores the deepening global fault lines over human rights diplomacy, with China positioning itself as a defender of national sovereignty while the U.S. adopts a more interventionist stance.
The U.S. has not yet responded to China’s latest warning, but diplomatic observers say tensions could rise if Washington proceeds with sanctions or military preparations.