Overview
- China’s Foreign Ministry said U.S. statements on Venezuelan crude violate international law and Venezuela’s permanent sovereignty over natural resources.
- Beijing insisted its “legitimate rights and interests” in Venezuela be protected and characterized Washington’s approach as intimidation.
- The ministry urged the immediate release of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores and warned that U.S. use of force has disrupted Venezuela’s economic and social order and threatened global supply chains.
- President Donald Trump said interim Venezuelan authorities would transfer 30–50 million barrels of oil to the United States, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. military would block sanctioned tankers until the state oil sector opened to foreign investment.
- Analysts report China’s exposure has shrunk significantly, with Venezuelan shipments to China at a fraction of past levels, 2024 Chinese FDI in Venezuela at about $318 million, and the true size of Venezuela’s China-linked debt uncertain.