China has strongly condemned the deployment of U.S. guided-missile destroyers off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea, characterizing the patrols as violations of regional sovereignty and threats to peace. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Guo Jiakun, criticized the U.S. Southern Command's claims that China is expanding its authoritarian model and increasing its influence in Latin America and the Caribbean. Guo emphasized that China’s cooperation with Latin American countries is based on mutual respect and benefits, not aimed at any third party, and urged the United States to cease attempts to sow discord and interfere in the region. Beijing reaffirmed its support for Venezuela's sovereignty and President Nicolás Maduro. Additionally, China accused the U.S. of manipulating the concept of “freedom of navigation” to justify military pressure, which it said undermines international maritime stability. The U.S. Southern Command, led by Admiral Alvin Holsey, had warned about China’s growing presence in the Western Hemisphere, a claim China disputes as distorted and reflective of Cold War mentality. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over influence and military presence in the Caribbean and Latin America between the two countries.