Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro shakes palms with Qiu Xiaoqi, Chinese language President Xi Jinping’s particular envoy to Latin America and the Caribbean, on the presidential palace in Caracas on Jan. 2, 2026, hours earlier than his abduction by the US. (from Maduro’s Telegram)
On Jan. 2, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro posted images on social media of his assembly with Qiu Xiaoqi, Chinese language President Xi Jinping’s particular envoy to Latin America and the Caribbean, on the presidential palace in Caracas. Along with this demonstration of amity, the Venezuelan presidential palace acknowledged that the bilateral talks lasted for “over three hours,” including that the 2 leaders reviewed over 600 agreements signed to this point.
Simply hours later, within the early hours of Jan. 3, the Trump administration invaded Venezuela and forcibly eliminated Maduro, leaving Chinese language diplomats in shock. Critics argued that dispatching Qiu at this juncture was a miscalculation, demonstrating an utter failure to learn the US’ operational route and the political panorama.
“Chinese language authorities didn’t anticipate that the US would resort to such an excessive technique akin to kidnapping,” a Chinese language knowledgeable nicely versed in diplomacy instructed the Hankyoreh in an interview after the actual fact.
“A construction the place native embassies or Overseas Ministry officers solely report what the higher-ups need to hear, constantly stating ‘the scenario is secure,’ has led to this awkward consequence. I’m certain the management is kind of indignant,” the knowledgeable mentioned.
Moreover, US media studies claiming that CIA spies had infiltrated the Venezuelan presidential workplace to watch Maduro’s each transfer in real-time drew vital consideration inside China. Chinese language media detailed the function the Venezuelan spy performed in Maduro’s kidnapping and their infiltration routes. Inner crackdowns in China are anticipated to accentuate.
In response to those US actions, the Chinese language authorities is shifting from expressing a principled standpoint towards leveling more and more harsh criticism in opposition to the US. In an announcement issued by its spokesperson the evening of Jan. 3, the Chinese language Overseas Ministry acknowledged, “China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US’ blatant use of pressure in opposition to a sovereign state and motion in opposition to its president.” The assertion additionally identified that such “hegemonic acts of the US critically violate worldwide legislation and Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threaten peace and safety in Latin America and the Caribbean area.”
On Jan. 4, Chinese language Overseas Minister Wang Yi strongly criticized the US’ actions, stating that China believes that no nation ought to act as a “world policeman.”
“The sovereignty and safety of all international locations ought to be totally protected underneath worldwide legislation,” he harassed.
“China is able to work with the worldwide group, [. . .] to firmly uphold the United Nations Constitution, defend the elemental ideas of worldwide justice, adhere to the sovereign equality of all international locations, [and] collectively safeguard world peace and growth,” he mentioned.
On Jan. 5, throughout a summit assembly with the Irish prime minister, President Xi Jinping famous that “unilateral and bullying acts are dealing a critical blow to the worldwide order.”
“All international locations ought to [. . .] observe worldwide legislation and the needs and ideas of the UN Constitution. Main international locations, specifically, ought to lead by instance,” he mentioned.
Whereas Xi didn’t instantly identify the US, his message was clear. China emphasised that it’s a main energy that adheres to worldwide legislation and morality, standing in opposition to US hegemony.
The US cited a crackdown on drug trafficking to justify the strike on Venezuela, however it was a transparent transfer in opposition to China, and half of a bigger effort to take away Chinese language exterior affect and reshape the Western Hemisphere completely underneath US management.
Trump’s emphasis on taking management of Venezuelan oil focused the safe provide of oil that China has been buying from Venezuela for cents on the greenback. As of November of final 12 months, 80% of Venezuelan oil exports went to China. Venezuela was China’s base of operations in South America, evidenced by the “all-weather strategic partnership” Caracas signed with Beijing.
The China Nationwide Petroleum Company, a state-owned Chinese language power agency, and Huawei, the cutting-edge tech agency, each have large operations in Venezuela.
Among the many weapons China exported to South and Central America from 2010 to 2020, 86% had been bought by Venezuela. Venezuela offered low cost oil and different pure sources to China; in change, Beijing exported weapons and telecommunications tools to Venezuela. Notably, Venezuela’s oil exports had been bought with the Chinese language yuan. This direct affront to US greenback hegemony seemingly provoked the US. Zhu Feng, the dean of Nanjing College’s Faculty of Worldwide Research, interpreted Trump’s intentions as “half of a bigger conflict for oil, pure sources and foreign money dominance.”
Nevertheless, apart from amping up its anti-American rhetoric, China doesn’t appear like it’s going to take any direct motion on Maduro’s behalf. Venezuela isn’t part of China’s key pursuits. China doesn’t need to disturb the hard-earned ceasefire it managed to eke out in its commerce and tech wars with the US merely over Venezuela. Since September of final 12 months, the US has been steadily concentrating forces within the waters and islands bordering Venezuela. Even when the US exerted navy strain on the Maduro regime, China didn’t present weapons to Venezuela. This may very well be seen as a sign telling Trump that Beijing isn’t going to intervene.
Even China’s press and official channels aren’t expressing vehement help for Maduro. Hu Xijin, a former chief editor of the International Occasions, declared three days after Maduro’s arrest in a WeChat submit that Maduro “did not mount efficient resistance to the US incursion; as an alternative, he was seized by US forces virtually instantly.”
“He’s extra of a joke than any of Washington’s earlier enemies,” Hu wrote, diving into straight-up mockery.
China’s response — or lack thereof — signifies that Beijing will intently monitor the US’ administration of Venezuela after Maduro’s removing, whereas defending China’s financial pursuits and political affect in South America as a lot as potential.
In an interview with China’s Guancha on Jan. 4, Niu Habin, the director of the Institute for Overseas Coverage Research and director of the Middle for Latin America Research underneath the Shanghai Institutes for Worldwide Research, mentioned, “It’s true that Venezuelan oil was one goal [of the US strike], however it’s not the principle purpose.”
“The secret is that the US’ reassertion of dominance within the Western Hemisphere, as acknowledged within the Trump administration’s new Nationwide Safety Technique, which declares that ‘the US will reassert and implement the Monroe Doctrine to revive American preeminence within the Western Hemisphere.’ This displays the technique of Trump, who seeks to reaffirm US navy dominance within the Western Hemisphere and lead the regional order,” he mentioned.
Niu insisted that the US technique isn’t appropriate with the respective financial realities of every South American nation, which is why the US can not change China within the area.
“The US has a weak manufacturing base and restricted demand for minerals, so it’s unimaginable to make South American nations forfeit their mineral transactions with China,” he argued. “Mineral sources are like a lifeline for South American international locations, and China is their most reliable cooperative accomplice.”
In a column printed by Guancha, Han Xiaopeng, a former professor at a Confucius Institute underneath the Nationwide Autonomous College of Mexico, claimed that the US strike on Venezuela produced a short-term loss for China however that it’s going to lead to a long-term loss for the US.
“Whereas Trump has received this battle, all of the chaos that’s to ensue will in the end turn out to be burdens on the US’ shoulders,” he argued.
First off, if Venezuela descends into chaos, and if the navy fractures into factions underneath numerous warlords, leading to civil conflict, the violence will produce tens of millions of refugees, who will head northward. This exacerbates the US’ immigration troubles. Second, whereas the blatant violation of worldwide legislation will intimidate South American international locations within the brief time period, in the long run, belief within the US in South America will vanish utterly and push them nearer to China, Han predicted.
“The US can’t present the event and infrastructure that South American international locations need, however nonetheless carries its ‘large stick,’” Han wrote. “That is the place China’s alternative will current itself. The US can strike ports, however it might’t construct railways. That’s our energy.”
Trump has clobbered the final of the remaining worldwide order into items whereas laughing about it. Many are interested by how this act will affect China’s Taiwan technique. There are numerous who declare that this newest motion will depart a harmful precedent.
Inside China, web customers who establish as “patriots” on-line are claiming that if the US can illegally invade Venezuela and kidnap the president, then the Individuals’s Liberation Military can “legally and legitimately train its nationwide sovereignty relating to unification.”
The argument that China may ship its particular forces to arrest Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and declare its possession of Taiwan earlier than taking it over in a blitzkrieg is spreading on the Chinese language internet.
Nevertheless, the Chinese language management doesn’t seem more likely to alter its Taiwan technique anytime quickly. They know that Taiwan is a wholly totally different matter from Venezuela. Amid an financial collapse and an absence of rule of legislation, over 8 million Venezuelans have fled their homeland. However Taiwan has cutting-edge know-how and a robust economic system. China is not going to rush into issues. As a substitute, Beijing will try and increase its political affect whereas spreading a message to the International South that China isn’t just like the evil American empire — it respects worldwide legal guidelines and the UN Constitution, and is a viable different for preserving world peace and stability.
Putin has invaded Ukraine, and Trump has invaded Venezuela. All around the globe, persons are exasperated in regards to the world being on the verge of slipping again into the period of pillaging imperialism. If China “reunifies” Taiwan by means of the strategies of Putin or Trump, the worldwide order will collapse completely and descend into lawlessness.
Nevertheless, upon seeing belief within the US collapse after Trump’s gambit, China will watch for probably the most opportune second to “resolve” the Taiwan downside underneath optimum circumstances. At that second, the US may have no rhetorical ammunition to fireside at China.
By Park Min-hee, senior worldwide affairs and unification reporter
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