U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has slammed China over its warning to Washington against military intervention in Nigeria, declaring that Beijing will not dictate America’s foreign policy.
Moore made the statement on Tuesday via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle while expressing support for President Donald Trump’s threat to take military action in defense of Christians allegedly facing persecution in Nigeria.
“President Trump is absolutely right to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering horrific persecution, and even martyrdom, for their faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” Moore wrote.
The lawmaker accused China of hypocrisy, citing its poor human rights record and persecution of religious minorities. He said Beijing had no moral right to lecture the U.S. on global affairs or dictate its foreign policy direction.
“China will not dictate our foreign policy to us, and we will not be lectured to by a Communist autocracy that recently arrested 30 Christian pastors for their faith and throws ethnic minorities in concentration camps,” Moore stated.
His comments followed a stern warning issued earlier by Chinese officials who condemned Washington’s threat of direct military involvement in Nigeria. Beijing accused the U.S. of “unwarranted interference” in another country’s internal security matters.
At a Tuesday press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing’s “unwavering support” for the Nigerian government, saying China stands by Nigeria as it “leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions.”
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening them with sanctions or force,” Ning said in response to Trump’s statement.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has urged President Donald Trump to respect the country’s sovereignty.
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala, speaking on Russia National TV, dismissed the genocide allegations as an orchestrated media campaign aimed at portraying President Bola Tinubu’s administration as anti-Christian.
Bwala emphasized that independent global monitors and credible civil society organizations have found no evidence of state-backed religious persecution in Nigeria.
The diplomatic row adds new tension to U.S.–China relations while amplifying global reactions to Trump’s controversial stance on Nigeria’s security crisis.
