China unlikely to aid Maduro if US acts in Venezuela, but could gain from fallout: experts
Beijing condemns US pressure on Caracas but offers limited support, prioritising its economic interests and long-term gains
Beijing is unlikely to offer military help to Venezuela if the United States moves against President Nicolas Maduro, analysts say, but it could still benefit from a shift in Washington’s global posture that revives old notions of spheres of influence, including one that might one day favour its ambitions towards Taiwan.
The United States has deployed about 11 warships and some 15,000 troops to the Caribbean, declared Venezuelan airspace closed, and hinted at possible ground operations after months of strikes on vessels it claims were smuggling drugs to North America. And US President Donald Trump escalated his fiery rhetoric aimed Maduro again on Wednesday.
His allies, however, have offered little beyond rhetorical backing. Russia has pledged to “monitor the situation”, while Iran has condemned what it calls US “unilateralism”, and China has limited its response to calls for restraint and for Latin America to remain a “zone of peace”.
Beijing’s caution follows a familiar pattern, as it rarely defends partners under military pressure, instead focusing on safeguarding economic interests and political access, experts heard by the Post said.