China supports Venezuela against the US blockade and rejects the policy of bullying
In a significant development in Latin American geopolitical events, China has forcefully entered the fray of escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, declaring its firm rejection of what it described as Washington's "bullying" tactics. This unequivocal stance was voiced by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who informed his Venezuelan counterpart, Iván Gil, on Wednesday, that Beijing stands with Caracas in defending its national sovereignty.
Chinese support in the face of the oil embargo
The Chinese statements come as a direct response to the Trump administration's announcement of a strict blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers already under sanctions, whether bound for or originating from Venezuela. In an official statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry regarding the phone call, Wang Yi affirmed that "China opposes all forms of bullying and supports all countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity." The statement added that Venezuela has the full right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperative relations with other countries, free from external interference.
This stance points to the depth of the strategic partnership between Beijing and Caracas, as China is one of Venezuela’s most important creditors and trading partners, and has long used its diplomatic influence in the Security Council to prevent resolutions that could harm the Venezuelan government, making Chinese support a key pillar of the Venezuelan economy’s resilience against sanctions.
The Venezuelan army defies threats
On the other hand, and coinciding with Chinese diplomatic support, the Venezuelan military has demonstrated cohesion and defiance of US pressure. The Venezuelan army declared that US President Donald Trump's threats "do not frighten them," affirming their readiness to deal with any scenario.
During a military event attended by top commanders who renewed their pledge of allegiance to President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López declared sharply, "We tell the U.S. government and its president that we are not afraid of their crude and arrogant threats." The minister emphasized that national sovereignty is a red line, adding, "There will be no compromise on the dignity of this nation, and we will not submit to anyone.".
Dimensions of the conflict and its regional impacts
This escalation cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader international context. The US moves to impose a naval blockade on Venezuelan oil exports represent the implementation of a "maximum pressure" strategy aimed at economically strangling the regime and depriving it of its main source of revenue. Conversely, China's intervention is seen as a message to Washington that Latin America is no longer solely a "backyard" of US influence, and that rising international powers are prepared to protect their interests and allies in the region.
Observers believe that this diplomatic clash could lead to a reshaping of the alliances map in the region, as the US embargo may push Venezuela towards greater economic and political dependence on Eastern powers such as China, Russia and Iran, thus complicating the political landscape and increasing international polarization over the Venezuelan issue.
