China has launched a strong diplomatic defence of Venezuela, accusing the United States of "unilateral bullying" following an order from President Donald Trump for a "total and complete" blockade of oil tankers bound for the South American nation.
Beijing's Stern Rebuke of Washington
In a significant show of support, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke directly with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil, on Wednesday 17 December 2025. During the phone call, Mr Wang asserted that Beijing stands with Caracas in defending its national sovereignty against external pressure.
He explicitly condemned the substantial US military presence in the Caribbean, which prominently features the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier strike group. "China believes the international community understands and supports Venezuela's position in defending its legitimate rights and interests," Mr Wang stated, framing Washington's actions as aggressive overreach.
Trump's Demands and Military Escalation
This message of solidarity from Beijing came in direct response to a dramatic declaration from the White House. Late on Tuesday, President Trump announced he had ordered the blockade, vowing that US forces would remain deployed until Venezuela returns "all of the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us".
In a social media post that underscored months of rising tensions, Mr Trump claimed Venezuela was encircled by the "largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America". He warned the show of force would intensify, promising a shock "like nothing they have ever seen before" until his demands were met.
The crisis escalated tangibly on 11 December, when the US military seized a Venezuelan oil tanker. This action is part of a broader campaign involving more than two dozen strikes on vessels in both the Caribbean and the Pacific since August. The US administration claims these boats were trafficking drugs, a charge Caracas vehemently denies. These operations have resulted in at least 90 fatalities, though Washington has provided no public evidence to support its characterisation of those killed as "narco-terrorists".
A Battle for Resources and Regime Change
Venezuela, which possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves and produces roughly one million barrels per day, has accused President Trump of violating international law and the principle of free navigation. The US has imposed sweeping sanctions on oil tankers, shipping firms, and relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Mr Trump has been unequivocal about his goals, alleging the "illegitimate Maduro Regime" uses oil revenue to finance terrorism and criminal activities. His actions appear aimed squarely at ousting Mr Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 and was re-elected in a contentious 2024 vote. This objective was further highlighted when Mr Trump doubled the reward for Mr Maduro's arrest to $50 million (£37.2m) in August.
The US president has also signalled his willingness to expand the campaign, stating strikes could move beyond maritime targets to land-based objectives within Venezuela. With the country's economy heavily reliant on oil, and with Mr Maduro's government already dependent on a shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions in place since 2017, the new blockade represents a severe intensification of pressure that has drawn a firm line between global powers.
