China has accused the United States of violating international law by arbitrarily detaining vessels in international waters, escalating tensions between the two global powers. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning condemned the actions during a press briefing on Thursday, January 8, 2026, calling them a "serious breach" of sovereignty and UN principles.
"China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions and actions that undermine the security of other nations," Mao stated, emphasizing that such measures lack UN Security Council authorization. The remarks follow reports of U.S. military seizures of oil tankers, including a recent incident in the North Atlantic involving Russian-linked ships.
