China has called on the United States to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and to stop attempts to overthrow the Venezuelan government.

On Jan 4, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said that the US seizure of President Maduro and his wife is a clear violation of international law. This marks the second statement from China's Foreign Ministry. On Jan 3, after the US strikes on Venezuela, China said it was shocked by and strongly condemned what it described as Washington's blatant use of force against Venezuela.

But here is the uncomfortable truth. America's allies — especially in the West — are uneasy. Their silence exposes a deeper hypocrisy: they express concern, yet stop short of directly condemning Washington.

History offers a clear warning: when powerful countries place themselves above international law, the result is not order, but chaos — and the price is ultimately paid by the world.