The American operation in Venezuela, during which Nicolás Maduro was captured, represents an economic, strategic, and military setback for Beijing. The fall of the South American dictator who closely cooperated with Xi Jinping also undermines China’s credibility as a “reliable partner.”
China condemned the American military operation in Venezuela, during which U.S. forces carried out airstrikes and detained President Nicolás Maduro. Beijing described the actions of the United States as a violation of international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty. The Chinese authorities called on Washington to immediately release Maduro and his wife, ensure their personal safety, cease attempts to overthrow the Venezuelan government, and resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations.
The sharp reaction of China’s communist government stems from fears linked to the collapse of the Maduro regime, which constitutes a significant weakening of China’s influence in the Western Hemisphere, especially in economic and strategic terms. China has extended loans to Venezuela totaling more than USD 60 billion, of which approximately USD 12 billion remains outstanding. In return, Beijing secured preferential access to Venezuelan crude oil – in 2025, China imported nearly 470,000 barrels per day, accounting for more than 70 percent of Venezuela’s oil exports and around 4.5 percent of China’s seaborne imports. Additionally, Chinese state-owned companies such as CNPC and Sinopec operate joint ventures with PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company, controlling billions of barrels in reserves. Private firms such as China Concord Resources planned investments exceeding USD 1 billion in Venezuelan oil fields, with the aim of producing 60,000 barrels per day by the end of 2026.
For years, Beijing has played a key role as the political sponsor of the Venezuelan regime. In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that the two countries are “close friends, dear brothers, and good partners.” Less than a month ago, China published a white paper on Latin America and the Caribbean in response to the U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS), in which Latin America was described as a “zone of key U.S. interests.” The Chinese document positioned Beijing as a partner of the Global South, offering not only broad economic cooperation but also collaboration in the military, policing, and security spheres, including cybersecurity.
Media in Taiwan emphasized that U.S. actions in Venezuela highlighted Beijing’s military weakness. For years, Venezuela had invested heavily in Chinese military equipment, claiming it was building the “most modern” defense system in South America. The air defense network, based on the Chinese JY-27 radar system, was presented as effective against U.S. F-22 Stealth fighters, while the Marine Corps, equipped among other things with Chinese VN-16/18 amphibious assault vehicles – was portrayed as a formidable armored force in the region. Meanwhile, during the U.S. military operation, these Chinese systems suffered a “devastating paralysis.” Military experts point out that this demonstrates a significant technological gap between Chinese weapons systems and those of the United States and its allies.
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