In the face of ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria, which has persisted for decades without foreign intervention, the Chinese government has pledged its unwavering support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu, amid threats of military action by United States President Donald Trump in response to end the ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Mao Ning, the spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, articulated China's position, asserting that the nation opposes any attempts by foreign countries to leverage religion and human rights as a justification for interfering in the internal affairs of other nations.
Mao Ning addressed inquiries concerning President Trump's threats of military intervention due to the prolonged persecution of Christians, which Nigerian authorities have reported to the United States government since the onset of the crisis.
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly supports the Nigerian government in guiding its citizens along a development path that aligns with its specific national circumstances,” stated Mao Ning.
Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, communicated China’s response via his account on X.
Onanuga has consistently conveyed, on behalf of the Presidency, that any claims of religious discrimination or persecution within Nigeria are unequivocally denied.
It is worth knowing that President Donald Trump addressed the issue of alleged persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria on October 31, 2025, by designating the country as a "Country of Particular Concern" under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act, stating that "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria" and that "thousands of Christians are being killed" by "radical Islamists." On November 1, 2025, he escalated his response via a post on Truth Social, threatening to immediately halt all U.S. aid and assistance to Nigeria while instructing the Pentagon (which he referred to as the "Department of War") to "prepare for possible action."
He specifically warned: "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,' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."
Trump added that any potential U.S. military intervention would be "fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!" and issued a direct warning for the Nigerian government to "move fast."
On November 2, 2025, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump reiterated the possibility of deploying U.S. troops or conducting airstrikes, saying: "They're killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria. They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We're not going to allow that to happen."
He emphasized that the U.S. "cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries" and affirmed that America stands "ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly affirmed the directive on social media, stating "Yes, sir," and that the Pentagon was "preparing for action," adding that "the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately."
These statements were prompted by longstanding reports of violence in Nigeria's northern and central regions, often involving Islamist groups like Boko Haram and clashes between herders and farmers, which some U.S. conservatives (including Sen. Ted Cruz) have framed as a "Christian genocide."
However, Nigerian officials, humanitarian experts, and data from groups like the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project have rejected the genocide narrative, noting that violence is complex driven by factors like resource disputes, ethnic tensions, and terrorism, and affects both Christians and Muslims disproportionately in Muslim-majority areas, with no evidence of systematic, government-backed targeting of Christians alone.
Nigeria's government has welcomed U.S. anti-terrorism assistance but emphasized respect for its sovereignty and denied religious intolerance. As of November 4, 2025, no military action has been taken, and diplomatic channels remain open.