U.S. Rep Hits Back At China Over Criticism Of Trump’s Warning To Nigerian Govt

U.S. Representative Riley M. Moore has hit back at China’s criticism of America’s position on alleged religious persecution in Nigeria, insisting that China cannot dictate American foreign policy.

Moore accused China of marginalizing ethnic minorities in their country and clamping down on religious freedom. According to him, such actions strips them of the moral rights to lecture the United States on the issue.

In a post on X, Moore said, “President (Donald) 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 Savior Jesus Christ.”

“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,” he added.

His comments came after China accused the United States of using religion and human rights as pretexts to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China “firmly supports the Tinubu administration as it leads its people on a 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 other countries with sanctions and force,” Mao added.

The diplomatic exchange follows President Trump’s warning of possible military action against Nigeria over what he described as the government’s failure to curb the killing of Christians.

“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Nigeria has since dismissed the allegations as a “mischaracterisation” of its religious environment.

In a statement, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed that Nigeria “stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” adding that his administration “maintains active engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while addressing security challenges that affect all citizens.”