China has reiterated firm support for the Nigerian government as it “leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions,” Mao Ning, spokesperson of China’s foreign ministry, said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force,” Mao said in response to questions about recent U.S. threats toward Nigeria.
The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Department of War to prepare for “possible action” in Nigeria and warned the Nigerian government to act swiftly to end what he described as the “killing of Christians.” Trump had also referred to Nigeria as a “disgraced country.”
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” the U.S. President said. “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
