The recent US strike in Venezuela, which led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro , could prompt China to strengthen its territorial claims, particularly on Taiwan and in the South China Sea, without accelerating military action against the island, several analysts interviewed by Reuters believe.
According to these experts, Chinese President Xi Jinping 's calculations regarding Taiwan remain largely independent of events in Latin America. Beijing's timing and strategy are primarily dictated by domestic Chinese considerations, rather than by US military initiatives abroad.
The American operation, conducted under the authority of President Donald Trump, nevertheless offers China an immediate political opportunity. Beijing is expected to use it to intensify its criticism of Washington, denouncing a violation of international law and seeking to strengthen its own position on the world diplomatic stage.
In the longer term, this attack could be exploited by China to more firmly justify its positions vis-à-vis the United States on several sensitive issues, including Taiwan, Tibet, and the disputed islands in the East and South China Seas. These territories have been major points of contention between Beijing and Washington for several years.
“The American arguments have always been the same, accusing China of violating international law, but these American actions are now weakening that position,” explains William Yang, an analyst at the International Crisis Group . According to him, this situation provides China with easy arguments to respond diplomatically to the United States.
China claims Taiwan, which is democratically governed, as a province and an integral part of its territory, a position rejected by the island's authorities. It also claims almost the entire South China Sea, a strategic area crucial for global trade and at the heart of ongoing disputes with several Southeast Asian countries.
