9 h. ago How US actions in Venezuela and beyond could spell opportunity for China

America’s military action in Venezuela and President Donald Trump’s talk of owning Greenland are stoking concerns that the United States is dismantling the rules-based global order. But this could also be a diplomatic opening for China as it tries to portray itself, in contrast, as a more responsible and stabilising power. Analysts said while this aligned with Beijing’s push to strengthen ties with its neighbours – a strategic move as its rivalry with Washington has intensified – concrete...

Politics

5 d. ago 2 supertankers sailing to pick up Venezuelan oil for China make U

Two China-flagged supertankers that were sailing to Venezuela to pick up debt-paying crude cargoes amid the US oil embargo on the Opec country have made U-turns and are now heading back to Asia, LSEG shipping data showed on Monday. Following the US announcement last week of a US$2 billion deal to export up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil stuck in storage, US President Donald Trump said China would not be deprived of Venezuela’s crude. But the Asian country, the first market of the...

Events

8 d. ago Trump’s comment that Taiwan issue is ‘up to Xi’ stirs defence concern in Taipei

US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Taiwan issue is “up to” Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stirred fresh concerns about the United States’ defence commitment among some on the island. Responding to Trump’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China’s territory and that the Taiwan question was purely China’s internal affair. Mao said that resolving the Taiwan issue was a matter for the Chinese people alone and...

Politics

8 d. ago Top South Korean official calls Trump’s Venezuela raid ‘violent atrocity’, stirring unease

Senior officials in South Korea’s Prime Minister’s Office are voicing concern over Park Seok-woon, a committee chairman under its authority, after he joined protests criticising US President Donald Trump and his administration over American military operations in Venezuela. Park, a long-time liberal activist, took part in a rally on Monday in front of the US embassy in Seoul, following an American military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who has been in power since 2013,...

Politics

9 d. ago US senate rejects Trump’s Venezuela threats with war powers vote

The Senate advanced a resolution Thursday that would limit US President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela, sounding a note of disapproval for his expanding ambitions in the western hemisphere. Democrats and five Republicans voted to advance the war powers resolution on a 52-47 vote and ensure a vote next week on final passage. It has virtually no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it if it were to pass the Republican-controlled House. Still,...

Politics

9 d. ago Macron slams US for ‘breaking free’ from global rules after Maduro raid, Greenland threat

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that the United States was “breaking free from international rules”, and “gradually turning away” from some of its allies. Macron delivered his annual speech to French ambassadors at the Elysee Palace as European powers are scrambling to come up with a coordinated response to US assertive foreign policy in the western hemisphere following Washington’s capture of Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro and Donald Trump’s designs on Greenland. “The...

Politics

9 d. ago Donald Trump’s Venezuela action raises threat for China’s oil supplies

Donald Trump’s Venezuela action raises threat for China’s oil supplies  Financial Times

Politics

1 week ago US says it will take control of Venezuela oil sales indefinitely

Expanding on the US administration’s increasingly robust view of foreign energy and security policy, a senior US official said on Wednesday that Washington expects to take control of future Venezuelan oil sales until further notice and use the proceeds to rebuild the nation’s beleaguered economy. The comments add to the conflicted messaging from US President Donald Trump’s administration on how it plans to run Venezuela following Saturday’s military strike that saw Nicolas Maduro and his wife...

Politics

1 week ago US says it will take control of Venezuela oil sales indefinitely after seizing tankers

Expanding on the US administration’s increasingly robust view of foreign energy and security policy, a senior US official said on Wednesday that Washington expects to take control of future Venezuelan oil sales until further notice and use the proceeds to rebuild the nation’s beleaguered economy. The comments add to the conflicted messaging from US President Donald Trump’s administration on how it plans to run Venezuela following Saturday’s military strike that saw Nicolas Maduro and his wife...

Events

1 week ago China blasts US for ‘blatant interference’ after Donald Trump claims Venezuela’s oil

China has denounced the United States for its “blatant interference” in Venezuela, accusing it of violating international law and infringing upon the country’s sovereignty following Donald Trump’s statement that America would take its oil. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Wednesday described America’s actions in the South American country as breaching international norms. “Venezuela is a sovereign state and has full permanent sovereignty over all its natural resources and...

Politics

1 week ago Why China may want to avoid direct confrontation with US after Venezuela raid

China is expected to avoid direct confrontation with the United States following the assault on Venezuela, but analysts said it may try to capitalise on the unease created among Latin American countries to deepen economic and diplomatic ties. Beijing had already been expanding its influence in the region through investments and trade, but these interests face a direct challenge from Washington’s increasing assertiveness as President Donald Trump has said the US was now “in charge” of Venezuela...

Politics

1 week ago Trump says Venezuela to send US up to 50 million barrels of oil, ‘money controlled by me’

US President Donald Trump said Venezuela would relinquish as much as 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, declaring it would be sold with the proceeds benefitting both countries. “I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. “This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be...

Politics

1 week ago China’s sensitive technology at risk after Trump abducts Venezuela leader Maduro

China risks losing access to satellite tracking stations and other sensitive technology infrastructure in Venezuela after the United States seized control of the country’s leadership and transferred its president Nicolas Maduro to New York for trial. Beijing’s embedded assets – from satellite ground stations to oilfield systems and telecommunications networks – could be compromised after US President Donald Trump said Washington would “run” Venezuela and “fix oil infrastructure” in the country...

Politics

1 week ago China’s sensitive technology at risk after Trump abducts Venezuelan leader Maduro

China risks losing access to satellite tracking stations and other sensitive technology infrastructure in Venezuela after the United States seized control of the country’s leadership and snatched its president, Nicolas Maduro, taking him to New York for trial. Beijing’s embedded assets – from satellite ground stations to oilfield systems and telecommunications networks – could be compromised after US President Donald Trump said Washington would “run” Venezuela and “fix oil infrastructure” in the...

Politics

1 week ago By targeting Venezuela, Donald Trump is also striking at China's interests

By targeting Venezuela, Donald Trump is also striking at China's interests  Le Monde.fr

Events

1 week ago If the US seizes control of Venezuela’s oil, who wins – and who loses?

After US air strikes hit Caracas on Saturday, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife were detained and transferred to the United States. US President Donald Trump later said his country planned to “run” Venezuela for the time being and take control of its oil reserves. In the wake of the military operation, the Post examines the potential winners and losers in the global oil market. Who are the winners? The US stands to be the biggest beneficiary. One immediate implication could be...

Politics

1 week ago US captures Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro: everything you need to know

We have put together stories from our coverage of the US-Venezuela conflict. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US scrambles geopolitics with stark attack on Venezuela The US attack reverses a vow US President Donald Trump made when campaigning for his second term that Washington would stop, not start, wars. 2. China is likely to thread the needle after US attack on Venezuela China will be patient and play the long game as it views the new...

Politics

1 week ago China is likely to thread the needle after US attack on Venezuela

China will be patient and play the long game as it views the new geopolitical chessboard, recalibrating carefully in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s move on Saturday to decapitate Venezuela’s leadership, analysts said. In a daring predawn raid, US forces descended on ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and airlifted him shackled and blindfolded to New York to face charges of “narcoterrorism conspiracy” and illegal weapons trafficking. “China is likely to thread this needle...

Events

1 week ago Donald Trump tells Venezuelan VP Delcy Rodriguez to cooperate, or else

US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Sunday to Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, saying she would pay a potentially larger price than her former boss, ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, if she does not cooperate with the United States. In the early hours of Saturday morning, US forces staged a complex raid that saw Maduro and his wife seized from their home, jailed and airlifted to New York to face trial on “narcoterrorism” and illegal weapons charges. “If she...

Politics

1 week ago China calls for Maduro’s immediate release, accuses US of breaching international law

China has raised concerns about the United States’ capture and removal of the Venezuelan leader from the country by force, and called on Washington to ensure safety and release Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The US launched military attacks on Venezuela on Saturday, captured President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and detained them in New York. US President Donald Trump, hours after the operation, said the US would run Venezuela until there was a “safe, proper and judicious” transition. “The US...

Society