China Condemns US Abduction of Maduro as Venezuelan Forces Are Disbanded
Key Takeaways
- U.S. conducted a nighttime operation to capture Maduro in Caracas.
- Beijing condemned Maduro's capture; it expanded influence in the region.
- Chinese social media framed Maduro's capture as a blueprint for Taiwan.
China Condemns Capture
China condemned the US capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro, branding it an illegal abduction and kidnapping.
“As US special forces were in the final stages of planning a daring nighttime operation into the heart of the Venezuelan capital, President Nicolás Maduro was posing for photographs with China’s top envoy to Latin America and lavishing praise on Beijing’s leadership”
Top Chinese diplomat Qiu Xiaoqi had met with Maduro just hours before the US-led operation.
Beijing's Foreign Ministry said it was deeply shocked and strongly condemned the flagrant use of force.
Widely Viewed in China as Warning
The capture sent shockwaves through China, with over 600 million views on Weibo in 24 hours.
Many in China saw the operation as a playbook for seizing Taiwan.
Some cheered the downfall of a dictator, others warned about ideological rigidity.
Xi Jinping called for all countries to respect the development path independently chosen by other peoples.
Strained Relations After $10 Billion Deal
The removal came just six days after Maduro secured a $10 billion-investment deal with Alibaba and Chinese companies.
“Just seven hours before U”
Five days after the capture, Admiral Dennis Blair testified China had effectively abandoned Maduro.
Chinese officials began engaging with the opposition and facilitating repatriations.
China Participates in Opposition-Led Transition
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed Qiu had delivered a formal repatriation request for Maduro to the opposition.
President Xi publicly called for respect of development paths and adherence to international law.
China’s ambassador met with Guaidó, and the USS New Jersey visited to repatriate Chinese nationals.
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