00:00China is condemning the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker, calling it a serious violation of international law.
00:08The vessel, intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard in international waters of Venezuela on Saturday,
00:14was carrying 1.8 million barrels of crude oil bound for China.
00:19At a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Venezuela has the right to develop relations with other countries
00:27and opposed all unilateral and illegal sanctions.
00:31American officials said documents show the tanker was loaded in Venezuela under a false name and was part of Venezuela's shadow fleet.
00:41Caracas called the interception a serious act of international piracy.
00:46China is the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, which accounts for about 4% of its oil imports.
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