PRC–Venezuela Relations Endure During U.S. Military Operation

PRC–Venezuela Relations Endure During U.S. Military Operation

Executive Summary:

• Beijing’s “all-weather strategic partnership” with Caracas rests on oil-for-loans arrangements, infrastructure projects, and military equipment sales.
• The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has deployed People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels to the southern Caribbean, diplomatically invoking the 2014 Latin American “zone of peace” framework while avoiding security commitments that could provoke direct confrontation with the United States.
• The PRC has framed recent U.S. military operations near Venezuela as violations of sovereignty and international law, positioning itself as a defender of Latin American autonomy against external interference.

On September 2, the United States launched Operation Southern Spear, initiating a series of strikes on vessels allegedly trafficking narcotics from Venezuela. By late November, approximately 15,000 U.S. troops had deployed to the region alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier task group (CNN, November 11). Caracas responded by appealing to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia for support, testing the practical limits of Beijing’s partnership declarations. But the PRC’s response so far has centered on established diplomatic principles rather than concrete security commitments.

Foreign Ministry Voices Support While Criticizing United States

At an October 10 United Nations Security Council emergency meeting on Caribbean tensions, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong (傅聪) emphasized that U.S. deployments and strikes near Venezuela “seriously infringe the sovereignty and security of another nation and its legal rights, violate international law, and threaten regional peace and security” (相关行为严重侵犯他国主权安全和合法权益，严重违反国际法，威胁地区和平与安全). He called for the United States to “immediately cease” (立即停止) operations ([Ministry of Foreign Affairs] MFA, October 11).

On October 15, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Lin Jian (林剑) stated that the PRC “opposes external forces interfering in Venezuela’s internal affairs under any pretext” (反对外部势力以任何借口干涉委内瑞拉内政) (MFA, October 15). This formulation, repeated across multiple MFA briefings, deliberately avoids specifying consequences while establishing Beijing’s position on the diplomatic record.

On November 4, the MFA’s more senior spokesperson, Mao Ning (毛宁), affirmed the PRC’s commitment to Venezuela, describing their cooperation as “not aimed at a third party, and not affected by third party interference” (不针对第三方，也不受第三方干扰和影响). [1] She sidestepped allegations of Chinese weapons supplies, stating that “China’s normal exchanges and cooperation with Venezuela are cooperation between sovereign states” (中国同委内瑞拉正常交往合作是主权国家之间的合作) (MFA, November 4).

PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi (王毅) called his Venezuelan counterpart Yván Gil on December 17, stating that the PRC “opposes unilateral bullying and supports every nation’s right to self-defense and ethnic dignity” (反对一切单边霸凌行径，支持各国捍卫自身主权和民族尊严) (MFA, December 17). This language reflects Beijing’s standard formula for defending partnerships that face Western criticism, framing bilateral ties as immune to external pressure while denying specific military dimensions.

The ‘All-Weather Strategic Partnership’ in Practice

The PRC and Venezuela have maintained an “all-weather strategic partnership” (全天候战略伙伴关系) since 2023 (MFA, September 14, 2023). In the PRC’s extensive taxonomy of diplomatic partnerships, “all-weather” is the adjective that carries the most weight. It implies that the PRC believes it will maintain very close relations with a country that will remain stable in the long term (China Brief, September 20, 2024). [2]

During a May 2025 meeting with President Maduro in Moscow, General Secretary Xi Jinping stated that “the PRC will continue to firmly support Venezuela in safeguarding national sovereignty, national dignity, and social stability” (中方将一如既往坚定支持委方维护国家主权、民族尊严、社会稳定) and emphasized willingness to “strengthen exchanges on governance experience” (加强治国理政经验交流) (Xinhua, May 10). Wang Yi also received Yván Gil in Beijing in May, where he praised Venezuela for “resolutely committing to self-reliance and achieving national development despite coercion and pressure” (不畏胁迫压力，坚定致力于自力更生、实现国家发展). Wang also made similar commitments as those voiced by Xi (MFA, May 12). He also said the PRC would “defend the common interests of developing countries” (捍卫发展中国家共同利益), highlighting Beijing’s broader narrative of Global South solidarity against Western hegemony.

PRC officials have been explicit about Venezuela’s shared role in resisting hegemony. PRC Ambassador to Venezuela Lan Hu (蓝虎) penned an op-ed explicitly linked World War II commemorations to contemporary resistance against U.S. pressure. He praised Venezuela’s weathering of German attacks on its oil infrastructure in the 1940s, before adding that both countries must “resolutely oppose hegemony and unilateralism” (坚决维护自身主权、安全、发展利益，坚决反对霸权和单边主义) (MFA, September 7). [3]

As part of its rhetorical efforts to mobilize resistance to U.S. activity in the region, MFA spokesperson Lin Jian used a December press conference to raise the 2014 Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace (MFA, December 3). The proclamation, signed by 33 states, commits members to resolving disputes peacefully and rejecting the use of force (United Nations, February 3, 2014). PRC diplomats regularly cite this principle to challenge U.S. military presence in the Western hemisphere.

PRC Energy and Economic Ties with Venezuela

Venezuela’s value to the PRC rests primarily on energy security and supply. According to shipping data compiled by Reuters, Venezuela exported an average of 921,000 barrels per day in November 2025, of which approximately 746,000 barrels (80 percent) destined for the PRC (Reuters, December 3). Even after the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers on December 10, PRC imports are predicted to hit 600,000 barrels per day in December (Reuters, December 15). This represents a significant increase from the 268,000 barrels per day reported in mid-2024, suggesting Chinese refineries have absorbed a larger share of Venezuelan output as alternative suppliers face constraints.

Chinese firms maintain direct operational stakes in Venezuelan energy infrastructure. State-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) holds shares in four joint ventures producing heavy crude from the Orinoco Belt, while another state-owned giant, Sinopec, operates refineries processing Venezuelan oil for Asian markets.

This dynamic follows a “loans-for-oil” structure established during the Hugo Chávez regime. Between 2007–2025, the PRC provided Venezuela with more than $60 billion in development loans, typically secured against future oil shipments at predetermined prices. While new lending has largely ceased due to Venezuela’s economic collapse and repayment difficulties, existing debt obligations continue to structure bilateral trade. PRC media reported in July 2025 that Venezuela’s oil-backed debts exceed $20 billion. Recently, China Concord Resources Corp (中国康科德资源公司) signed a 20-year production sharing contract with Venezuela, which includes $1 billion in investments (Reuters, August 22; QQ News, October 7). Beyond petroleum, Chinese engagement is largely focused in mining and infrastructure, though it is attempting to broaden the relationship (Chinalco, April 11; PRC Embassy in Venezuela, October 29).

PRC Arms Sales and PLA Deployments

PRC officials deny providing Venezuela with offensive weapons, but evidence suggests a growing defense relationship. A recent meeting between Ambassador Lan Hu and Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López affirmed PRC–Venezuela aerospace cooperation and expressed a hope to “strengthen exchanges and deepen cooperation” (该领域持续加强交流、深化合作) in the field (PRC Embassy in Venezuela, November 28).

PRC equipment, alongside Russian materiel, is starting to underpin the Venezuelan military. Commentators note that Venezuela’s defense posture now relies on Russian-made Su-30MK2 fighter jets, as well as Chinese-made VN-18 infantry fighting vehicles, Type 05 amphibious assault vehicles, and SH-16A howitzers (163.com, September 2; China News, November 7). Multiple Chinese media outlets have reported that Venezuela is negotiating to purchase 20 J-10CE fighters from the PRC, which would represent Caracas’s first acquisition of Chinese combat aircraft. An August 31 article described a potential J-10CE offering as a possibility but recognized the geopolitical and logistical hurdles for the PRC to export the aircraft to Venezuela. The article also noted that Venezuela’s existing F-16A/B aircraft imported from the United States in the 1980s have lost combat effectiveness due to years of technical blockades (163.com, September 2). While official confirmation remains absent, Chinese defense observers have discussed the sale openly, suggesting at least exploratory talks have taken place.

The J-10CE discussion reflects broader Chinese willingness to fill equipment gaps created by Western sanctions. Venezuela has a history of purchasing Chinese military equipment, including K-8 trainer aircraft, Y-8 transport aircraft, and most recently, JY-27A air defense radars in 2019 (Infodefensa, September 27, 2019; Béraud-Sudreau et al., July 2022). [4] These systems are not the PRC’s most advanced capabilities but will provide Venezuela with options unavailable from traditional suppliers.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has established its presence in the Caribbean in response to the American military deployment. In August 2025, the Type 815A electronic reconnaissance ship Liaowang (瞭望号) appeared in international waters near Venezuela’s Paria Gulf, operating in overlapping zones with U.S. naval forces (Baidu/Guojidabiaojie, September 2). Chinese military commentators cited the PLA doctrine of “weishe” (威懾) and described the deployment as demonstrating “asymmetric deterrence” (非对称威慑) capabilities. Roughly translated as deterrence/coercion, weishe refers to the means of making an enemy submit to one’s will (Rice, August 21). [5] While the Liaowang eventually departed without incident, its presence signaled the PRC’s capacity to monitor U.S. operations in the Western hemisphere.

In November, the hospital ship Silk Road Ark (丝路方舟号) made its first port call to Nicaragua as part of the “Harmonious Mission 2025” (和谐使命-2025) deployment. The vessel, which had departed from Fujian in September, was scheduled to visit over ten Latin American countries to provide medical services. Nicaragua was not on the original itinerary, and the unannounced port call at the authoritarian nation—and close Venezuelan ally—seemed to signal low-level weishe deterrence efforts. State media also framed the voyage as part of the PRC’s contribution to maintaining global order, describing it as “realizing of a community of common destiny for mankind” (践行人类命运共同体) (Xinhua, September 5).

Implications for the PRC’s Latin America Strategy

On December 10, the MFA released a “Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean”(中国对拉丁美洲和加勒比政策文件). This was the third iteration of the document, following versions published in 2008 and 2016. The policy paper frames the region as a core component of the Global South and emphasizes sovereignty, non-interference, opposition to unilateral coercion, and rejection of bloc confrontation as the foundation of the PRC’s engagement. It praises the majority of Latin American and Caribbean countries for “strictly observing the One China Principle” (恪守一个中国原则) and “opposing any form of Taiwan independence” (反对任何形式的“台湾独立”) (MFA, December 10).

The policy paper signals an intent to deepen military ties with the region through regular engagement and institutionalized dialogue. It points to increased interaction among defense leaders, a wider range of exchanges including naval visits and delegations, and closer cooperation in areas such as training, professional education, and peacekeeping operations. Beyond traditional military links, the document also encourages cooperation on humanitarian assistance, counterterrorism, and other non-traditional security challenges, alongside an expanded role for arms trade and defense industrial collaboration. Beijing also presents multilateral forums as key platforms for this engagement, pledging to continue hosting regional defense dialogues and encouraging Latin American participation in PRC-led security forums.

The current crisis reveals the limits of PRC support for Venezuela, however, as Beijing appears unwilling to bear any costs. Chinese loans to Venezuela have effectively ceased since 2020, with existing exposure already considered problematic. The Trump administration’s recently announced blockades of sanctioned oil tankers leaving and entering Venezuela present additional complications for the PRC’s oil trade with Venezuela (New York Times, July 28). As with all PRC partnerships, there are no mutual defense obligations, and MFA spokespersons have consistently demurred on questions of military support for Venezuela. On November 4, when questioned about alleged weapons supplies, Mao Ning vaguely referenced combating transnational crime before pointing at the U.S. use of military force to pursue such goals (MFA, November 4).

PRC media coverage of the crisis has also been notably restrained compared to Beijing’s responses to perceived U.S. provocations elsewhere. While MFA spokespersons issue routine statements defending Venezuela’s sovereignty, state media outlets have avoided inflammatory rhetoric that might complicate U.S.–PRC relations. Contrasts between the treatment of Venezuela and disputes in Asia suggest that Beijing views supporting Venezuela ultimately as secondary to mitigating tensions with Washington.

Conclusion

The PRC’s response to U.S. military operations near Venezuela is characterized by vocal diplomatic support, continued economic engagement, and carefully calibrated military sales, but no security guarantees or significant new financial commitments. PRC officials have framed U.S. actions as violations of sovereignty and international law; but while they position Beijing as a defender of Latin American autonomy, they have avoided escalatory rhetoric or actions of their own.

Beijing’s broader calculation is that maintaining access to Venezuelan oil and preserving its reputation as a reliable partner serve its interests, but not to the extent of jeopardizing U.S.-PRC relations or exposing Chinese assets to risks. Venezuela’s crisis will test whether Beijing’s “all-weather” partnerships offer only rhetoric without concrete support when pressure intensifies, or if the PRC’s model of economic statecraft can sustain relations when partners face existential threats.

Notes

[1] Mao Ning (毛宁) is also the Department Chief (司长) of the Press Department (新闻司) in the MFA, while Lin Jian (林剑) is the Deputy Chief (副司长) in the Press Department. Therefore, Mao outranks Lin even though they are both referred to as “spokesperson.”

[2] “All-weather” partners also include Pakistan, Belarus, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, and Hungary, and Africa as a whole. Kazakhstan is on a similar level, but referred to as a “permanent” (永久) partner.

[3] In the original Spanish, Lan Hu wrote, “oponernos firmemente a la hegemonía y al intervencionismo.”

[4] Lucie Béraud-Sudreau, David Brewster, Christopher Cairns, Roger Cliff, R. Evan Ellis, April Herlevi, Roy Kamphausen Mr., Roderick Lee, Paul Nantulya, Meia Nouwens, Rebecca Pincus, and Joel Wuthnow, “Enabling a More Externally Focused and Operational PLA.” 2020 PLA Conference Papers (US Army War College Press), July 2022. https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/951

[5] Rice, Daniel C. “Understanding Weishe: China’s System of Strategic Coercion.” China Military Studies Review (Marine Corps University Press), August 21, 2025. https://doi.org/10.33411/cmsr2025.01.001.