China has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s recent threat to carry out military operations in Nigeria.
Trump had accused Nigeria of failing to protect its Christian population from Islamist militant attacks.
In response, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that China supports Nigeria in guiding its citizens along a development path that suits the country’s own national conditions.
“China opposes any nation interfering in the internal affairs of another country under the pretext of religion or human rights, and also opposes the frequent use of sanctions and military threats,” the ministry added.
Trump recently claimed that Christianity in Nigeria is facing “an existential threat” from jihadist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa.
However, Amnesty International reports that attacks in the country’s northeast are not driven solely by religious motives, with Muslims also being targeted.About 46 percent of Nigeria’s population is Christian, according to US government statistics.
