A prominent U.S. lawmaker, Congressman Riley Moore, has issued a strong rebuke of China’s recent warnings to the United States regarding potential military intervention in Nigeria. Moore’s statement comes in response to Beijing’s condemnation of President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) and his call for possible military action to protect Christian communities allegedly facing persecution.
“China will not dictate our foreign policy to us,” Moore declared in a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. “We will not be lectured to by a Communist autocracy that recently arrested 30 Christian pastors. The United States has a moral responsibility to defend religious freedom wherever it is under threat.”
Moore’s remarks follow a wave of international tension sparked by Trump’s comments, which suggested that the U.S. could consider deploying military forces to Nigeria if reports of targeted violence against Christians persist. China responded by urging the international community to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and development path, warning against the use of religion as a pretext for foreign interference.
The diplomatic standoff has placed Nigeria at the center of a broader geopolitical contest between the U.S. and China. While Beijing has reaffirmed its support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and condemned any foreign military threats, Moore insists that the U.S. must act decisively to uphold its values.
“We cannot stand by while innocent lives are at risk. If the Nigerian government cannot protect its citizens, then the international community must consider all options,” Moore added.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue a formal response to Moore’s comments, though officials have previously rejected the CPC designation and emphasized their commitment to religious freedom and national unity.
Analysts warn that escalating rhetoric from both Washington and Beijing could complicate Nigeria’s diplomatic balancing act and potentially destabilize regional security dynamics.