Tetiana IshchykThe beginning of 2026 was marked by an event that reshaped the landscape of international relations: a U.S. military operation in Caracas, which resulted in the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
For Beijing, this incident was not merely an international shockwave but a serious test of its regional strategy. For years, Venezuela had symbolized for China resistance to U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere and served as a key partner in opposing unilateral sanctions.
China’s response – from official statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to in-depth analysis by leading experts – indicates that Beijing views Washington’s move as the beginning of a new, significantly more aggressive era of American hegemony.
Key Findings:
- China views the U.S. operation in Venezuela as a serious violation of international law and a dangerous precedent for unilateral use of force.
- In Chinese discourse, the Venezuelan operation is interpreted as a signal of a return to a world divided into “spheres of influence.”
- The Caracas operation increases Beijing’s strategic concern about potential U.S. actions in the Asia-Pacific region.
Official Position of Beijing: Condemnation and Calls for Lawfulness
The official reaction from Beijing was swift and firm. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep shock at the “brazen use of military force against a sovereign state.” Chinese diplomacy characterized Washington’s actions as “hegemonic,” stating that they severely violate international law and infringe upon Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi (王毅) emphasized that no country has the right to act as an “international policeman” or “international judge.” He described the current situation as an escalation of “unilateral bullying.”
Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian (林剑) expressed serious concern over the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife from the country, calling it a clear violation of the UN Charter. China demands their immediate release and guarantees for their safety, and calls for an end to attempts to overthrow the Venezuelan government, urging dialogue and negotiation instead.
Spokesperson Mao Ning (毛宁) stressed that major powers should set an example in upholding international law rather than returning to the “law of the jungle.” She highlighted Venezuela’s right to sovereignty over its own resources, describing the “America First” approach to Venezuelan oil as typical bullying.
The Chargé d’Affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Sun Lei (孙磊), condemned U.S. intentions to “control” Venezuela and warned of the danger of a second, more масштабed phase of the operation.
Chinese Expert Analysis: The Return of the “Monroe Doctrine”
Chinese academic circles interpret the Caracas operation as a practical manifestation of an updated “Monroe Doctrine” in Donald Trump’s interpretation.
Chen Wenxin (陈文鑫), Director of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, believes Trump used Venezuela as a “stepping stone” to strengthen U.S. hegemony. However, he also argues that the incident simultaneously depleted American strategic resources and requires close attention.
Liao Fan (廖凡), Director of the Institute of World Economy and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, offered a broader forecast. In his view, U.S. actions may signal the end of the post–World War II liberal international order, and the world may be moving toward a division into “spheres of influence,” where power politics prevails over rule-based governance.
Wang Yiwei (王义桅), Professor at Renmin University’s Institute of International Relations and Director of the Institute of International Affairs, stated that Trump hopes to use this military operation to “operate” Venezuela and establish U.S. hegemony in the Western Hemisphere.
Implications for the Asia-Pacific Region and China
Chinese analysts are particularly concerned about how the Venezuelan precedent could affect security around China itself. Liao Fan warns that after the Venezuelan events, “anti-China and Sinophobic” forces in Asia may become more active. Traditional U.S. allies such as Japan and the Philippines may engage in provocations to demonstrate their value to Washington or expand their own influence. There is a risk that shifts in U.S. strategy could also alter the positions of actors traditionally friendly or neutral toward China.
Yang Bojiang (杨伯江), Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, points to a possible transformation in U.S.–Japan relations. Instead of a “leader–follower” model, they may shift toward a “side-by-side” format. The United States is enhancing Japan’s armament with long-range missiles, creating direct risks for China in 2026. Despite the focus on Venezuela, the U.S. is not abandoning Taiwan or Japan as pillars of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
Jiang Shixue (江时学), a specially appointed professor and head of the Center for Latin American Studies at Shanghai University, argues that at a deeper level, the United States, as a superpower, maintains global strategic ambitions, seeking to extend its influence across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Global Strategic Adjustment of the United States
Chinese experts generally agree that the attack on Venezuela was not accidental but part of a new version of the U.S. National Security Strategy.
Yang Jianmin (杨建民), a researcher at the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, argues that it reflects a “strategic pivot” by the U.S. back to the Western Hemisphere aimed at controlling oil resources and suppressing anti-American forces.
Ni Feng (倪峰), a researcher at the Institute of American Studies of the same academy, interprets this as a shift away from 20th-century diplomatic models toward a “regressive” late 19th-century model in which the U.S. acts freely without treaty constraints.
Huang Renwei (黄仁伟), Executive Vice President of Fudan University’s Institute of Belt and Road and Global Governance, notes that the U.S. no longer has the capacity to sustain global commitments simultaneously and is therefore prioritizing key regions such as the Far East and Latin America, seeking to avoid excessive costs through rapid military operations.
Risks and Challenges for the Future
Yang Jianmin predicts that the U.S. military operation against Venezuela could become a dangerous precedent, potentially leading to more frequent conflicts and wars, and even triggering a new arms race, while the global security governance system will face serious challenges.
Wang Yiwei also states that Trump aims to “punish one to warn a hundred,” overthrowing the Maduro government and supporting a pro-American regime.
Wu Zhicheng (吴志成), Director of the Institute of International Strategy at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), emphasizes that the Trump administration masks military expansion under the strategy of “peace through strength,” making the international order even more unstable.
Jiang Shixue concludes that the Venezuela operation is the “first shot” in the new U.S. national security strategy. He expresses pessimism about the UN’s ability to restrain such actions, quoting the President of Chile: “Today it is Venezuela; tomorrow it could be any country.”