Donald Trump has upended decades of China’s careful courtship of Venezuela in a matter of hours.
Just before a nighttime US raid that led to his capture, President Nicolás Maduro was praising China’s Xi Jinping as an “older brother” and a global leader.
Beijing has poured billions into oil-rich Venezuela, one of its closest partners in South America, proudly showcasing hundreds of bilateral agreements.
Hours later, images emerged of Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed aboard a US warship.
China condemned Washington’s move as a violation of sovereignty, but behind the rhetoric lies deep unease.
Trump’s seizure of Venezuelan oil sharpens Beijing’s fears about how far the US will go to block Chinese influence. As one US official put it bluntly: this is America’s hemisphere — and rivals are no longer welcome.
By James Kisoo
