Big Take Asia Podcast

Does Venezuela Hand China a Blueprint for Taiwan?

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, what Trump’s move on Venezuela means for China’s place in Latin America – and the risk to Taiwan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025Photographer: Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

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By K Oanh Ha, Naomi Ng, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate, and Rachael Lewis-Krisky

January 6, 2026 at 9:28 PM UTC

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The US strike on Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro sent shockwaves across the globe — particularly in China, Venezuela’s top crude buyer and creditor.