US Blasts China's 'Violation' While Sanctioning Most of the Planet
China correctly points out the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers (reported by The Hill) 'grossly violates international law.' This is framed as a diplomatic spat, not a mirror for American foreign policy. Meanwhile, the U.S. has unilaterally imposed sanctions on 39 countries, representing 27% of the global population, according to government data analyzed by the Center for Economic and Policy
Research. Venezuela itself has been under crippling U.S. sanctions since 2017, measures condemned by the UN Human Rights Office for exacerbating economic hardship. One might wonder if 'international law' is a concept the U.S. believes only applies to others. The selective outrage is almost endearing. It appears Washington views the global rules-based order less as a framework for all and more as a
convenient weapon against nations unwilling to bend to its will. The Hill’s reporting, by focusing solely on China's reaction without this context, paints a picture of isolated incidents rather than a systemic policy of economic coercion.