China reaffirmed its commitment to energy cooperation with Venezuela following President Nicolas Maduro's capture by U.S. forces, insisting that bilateral agreements remain protected under international law.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated that regardless of political shifts in Caracas, Beijing would continue deepening practical cooperation across various sectors, according to the South China Morning Post.
UPDATE: Nicolás Maduro met in Caracas with Qiu Xiaoqi, special envoy of Xi Jinping, to review bilateral cooperation between Venezuela and China.
— Global Defense Insight (@Defense_Talks) January 3, 2026
The meeting took place approximately 10 hours before the reported U.S. attack, highlighting intensified diplomatic engagement ahead of… pic.twitter.com/vMMvCDhEma
Lin emphasized China's principle of non-interference in other nations' domestic affairs and described Latin America as a region where Beijing seeks "equality and mutual benefit" rather than dominance.
China is Venezuela's largest oil customer, having built a deep financial relationship through yuan-denominated loans-for-oil deals designed to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
China’s Oil Colony
— PiQ (@PiQSuite) January 3, 2026
Venezuela owes China roughly $60 billion.
For years, it’s been shipping oil to service that debt.
Today, around 80% of Venezuelan crude ends up in Chinese hands.
Part repayment, part discount sales.
That’s not a trading relationship.
That’s… https://t.co/ziLXtjZeG2
President Trump has justified the Venezuelan operation by claiming the country "stolen" American oil assets and announced that U.S. firms would control Venezuela's oil industry going forward.
However, Trump indicated that oil exports to China and other major importers would continue once production is restored, reported SCMP.
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