Chinese mainland to continue helping Chinese nationals evacuate from war-torn places: spokeswoman

Compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same Chinese nation, and the mainland will continue to make all efforts in assisting in the evacuation of the Chinese nationals, including the Taiwan compatriots in war-torn places in Iran and Israel, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday at a press conference.

Zhu made the remarks in response to a relavent media question.

According to Zhu, following the outbreak of the Iran-Israel conflict, relevant departments and Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and Israel immediately activated emergency consular protection mechanisms, urging the two countries to effectively safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens, including Taiwan compatriots. 

"Compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same Chinese nation. We have always attached great importance to safeguarding the safety and legitime rights and interests of overseas Taiwan compatriots. From providing consular document services to assisting in handling civil disputes and economic and criminal cases involving Taiwan residents in foreign countries, from responding to natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes to emergency evacuations during conflicts, we have always reached out to the impacted Taiwanese compatriots at the first opportunity to provide necessary assistance," said Zhu. 

"So far some Taiwan compatriots have been evacuated to neighboring countries safely. We will continue to make all efforts to help the Chinese nationals including Taiwan compatriots evacuate. Those in need may contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in their area at any time or call the 12308 consular protection hotline," she said.

Chinese mainland to continue helping Chinese nationals evacuate from war-torn places: spokeswoman

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation