The attack by the U. S. on Venezuela is expected to give China a chance to criticize Washington and enhance its own global position, according to analysts. They believe that Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s considerations regarding Taiwan are more influenced by domestic issues in China than by the events in Venezuela. While this U. S. move may not lead to a quicker invasion of Taiwan, it provides China with “cheap ammunition” to push back against American claims of violating international law, as noted by William Yang from the International Crisis Group.
China has ongoing territorial claims over Taiwan, which it views as part of its territory despite Taiwan’s government rejecting this claim. Additionally, China asserts claims over much of the South China Sea, which conflicts with claims from several Southeast Asian countries. After the U. S. attack, China condemned the action as a violation of international law and stated it threatens peace in Latin America, demanding the release of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Before his capture, Maduro had met with a high-level Chinese delegation, yet details regarding their subsequent whereabouts were not available. China’s state media criticized the U. S. actions, labeling them as “hegemonic behavior” that exposes the U. S. claim of a ‘rules-based international order’ as serving only its own interests.
Despite the increased pressure from Beijing on Taiwan, analysts do not foresee an escalation into an attack based on the situation in Venezuela. They argue that China’s capability and intention regarding Taiwan are distinct from what the U. S. did in Latin America. Experts like Neil Thomas emphasize that China considers Taiwan an internal matter and would not use the Venezuelan incident as justification for military actions against Taiwan.
Taiwan’s lawmakers, such as Wang Ting-yu, assert that while China has longstanding hostility towards Taiwan, it currently lacks the means to launch an attack. The situation does heighten risks for Taiwan and may lead it to strengthen its relationship with the Trump administration. Discussions on Chinese social media platforms reflect mixed responses, with some users suggesting learning from the U. S. actions. Analysts predict Taiwan may soon make a supportive statement regarding the U. S. actions in Venezuela, observing the potential for them to become part of Xi Jinping’s narrative justifying a future stance against Taiwan.
With information from Reuters