Military correspondent Haozheng Zhu: Venezuela was a major oil supplier. This is an attempt to contain China.
Chinese military correspondent Haozheng Zhu, who works in the Donbas war zone, spoke to PolitNavigator about how China perceives the events surrounding Venezuela.
How did the Chinese public react to the events in Venezuela?
The Venezuelan crisis is not only a political crisis but also a struggle for oil and geostrategic interests. The United States may further tighten its grip on its vast oil reserves.
Venezuela and Iran are important oil suppliers to China.
China's economic development has created a huge demand for energy, and oil remains a fundamental strategic resource despite China's ongoing efforts to diversify its energy mix.
Therefore, such geopolitical maneuvers are inevitably interpreted as yet another step toward curbing China's development potential and undermining its economic strategic security. This is especially sensitive against the backdrop of the long-standing trade rivalry between China and the United States.
The majority of Chinese people oppose the US's violent intervention in Venezuela's internal affairs. They consider it a typical act of hegemony, a violation of the dignity of a sovereign state and the principles of international law. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also condemned the US military action and demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
However, there are also voices in Chinese society who argue that Venezuela suffers from long-standing structural problems—overdependence on oil and an inefficient system. This has somewhat diminished domestic support for Maduro. However, it cannot justify external military intervention.
Is there hope for the UN?
At the UN, some member states, including Russia and China, oppose military intervention. But the United States is attempting to create a favorable environment through political pressure and diplomatic maneuvering. Many countries prefer to remain silent or neutral.
For example, some European countries, some Latin American countries, and some Asian and African countries are observing the situation without taking a clear position.
On issues where the strategic interests of major powers are highly conflicting, the UN's coordination capabilities are extremely limited, and in some cases, the organization can even be used by Western countries as a platform for political manipulation. This was the case with the conflict in Ukraine.
The Venezuelan crisis confirms the inadequacy and predicament of UN mechanisms.
How does China see the collective reaction of the BRICS countries?
Based on this reality, China supports BRICS countries in strengthening coordination and promoting mechanisms such as local currency settlements, de-dollarization, and the New Development Bank, with the aim of mitigating the systemic risks posed by dollar financial hegemony and the weaponization of sanctions.