China has told Donald Trump to stay away from Venezuela’s oil after the U.S. said it would take control of the country following an operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro was taken to a court in New York on Monday, January 5, 2026. U.S. authorities say he and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted on “narco-terrorism” charges. Trump said American oil companies would move in and “rebuild” Venezuela’s oil system. His comments suggested the U.S. wants direct access to Venezuela’s huge — and mostly untapped — oil reserves.
China reacted sharply. Beijing has invested billions in Venezuela’s oil industry and says its export deals with Caracas are protected by law. China also demanded the “immediate release” of Maduro and Flores. In a statement, China’s foreign ministry called the operation a breach of international law and the UN Charter. It urged Washington to stop trying to undermine Venezuela’s government and to resolve disputes through dialogue.
The dispute comes just days after Maduro met China’s Latin America envoy, Qiu Xiaoqi, at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas.
Meanwhile, tracking data indicated more than a dozen tankers carrying Venezuelan crude and fuel left the country in recent days, apparently trying to avoid U.S. forces. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but analysts warn that boosting production quickly would be difficult and expensive.
Russia, Iran, North Korea, Mexico, and Colombia also criticised the U.S. action.