Trump’s Arrest of Nicolas Maduro: Why China is Playing the Long Game
US President Donald Trump ordered a daring raid to arrest Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Explore China's cautious reaction and the rise of the 'Trump corollary' to the Monroe Doctrine.
The geopolitical chessboard just shifted. While Donald Trump just executed a lightning-fast decapitation of Venezuela's leadership, China is keeping its cool. On January 3, 2026, US forces captured Nicolas Maduro in a predawn raid, transporting him to New York to face narcoterrorism charges.
The Fallout of the Trump Arrest of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela
The raid's speed caught the world off guard. Shackled and blindfolded, Maduro now faces the US justice system for alleged illegal weapons trafficking. According to the SCMP, analysts suggest Beijing will likely "thread the needle," offering verbal condemnation without taking drastic economic or military action.
I doubt that China will do much more than that. Venezuela isn’t among China’s core interests, and there is more downside than upside to taking actions that would complicate Trump’s ability to achieve a win.
The 'Trump Corollary' and the 1823 Monroe Doctrine
This move didn't come out of nowhere. Last month, Trump released a National Security Strategy reviving the Monroe Doctrine, originally from 1823. The new "Trump corollary" warns foreign powers to stay out of the Western Hemisphere. China's current wait-and-see strategy reflects the high level of uncertainty regarding Venezuela's future leadership and Washington's level of future governance involvement.
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