Overview
- President Donald Trump told the New York Times that what China does on Taiwan is up to Xi Jinping, adding he would be "very unhappy" with a forcible change to the status quo and arguing the Venezuela operation sets no precedent for Taiwan.
- China condemned the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro and dismissed parallels to Taiwan, with officials reiterating that Taiwan is an internal matter and warning of a potential "head-on blow" to separatist moves.
- The Pentagon and regional observers report continued Chinese military pressure around Taiwan following late‑December drills that featured long‑range rocket launches and large air and naval maneuvers.
- The White House cast the Venezuela action as reasserting U.S. authority in the Western Hemisphere, but NBC News reports experts doubt Beijing will be dislodged from Latin America and that Washington does not plan to cut China off from Venezuelan oil.
- Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez highlighted support from Beijing after meeting China’s ambassador, as China insisted its interests in Venezuela be protected and Latin American governments offered mixed reactions to the U.S. strike.