A US military helicopter flies over the Panama-flagged Centuries, which was intercepted by the US Coast Guard, days after US President Donald Trump announced a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, east of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea, Dec 20, 2025. [Photo/Agencies]
Editor's note: US strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro has been condemned globally as a serious violation of international law and national sovereignty. Two Chinese experts share their views with China Daily's Wang Qingyun and Li Huixian. Excerpts follow:
US strikes blatant hegemonic invasion
After a swift military strike against Venezuela on Saturday, the US administration announced that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the country". Subsequently, the US administration said it would "run" Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition". The lightning speed at which it all happened sent shock waves across the globe.
The official explanation the US has offered for its military action was "combating drug trafficking" and "protecting regional security". However, clearly there are far-reaching intentions behind the operation.
In the United States' recently issued National Security Strategy, the US administration focused on putting the Western Hemisphere first, and proposed the so-called "Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine". It declared that the US would restore "American preeminence" in the Western Hemisphere to prevent "foreign hostile forces" from gaining a foothold in key regional assets and influence. The strategy includes a stronger military presence, stricter border and drug controls, more active political influence mechanisms and the use of force when necessary.
The US military strike on Venezuela is a concentrated embodiment of the "corollary-style Monroe Doctrine" in practice. First, through military intervention, the US administration is moving away from a pattern which involved only imposing economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Saturday's strike is a case of direct military intervention, demonstrating US military presence in the Western Hemisphere at the strategic level.
Second, the strike was undoubtedly aimed at reshaping the regional power structure and balance of influence. Even in the National Security Strategy, the US clearly prioritizes curbing the influence by "competitors" as a key focus of its Western Hemisphere policy.
In this context, Venezuela carries symbolic significance, being an important partner of China in energy and infrastructure cooperation and a crucial node for Chinese investment and the Belt and Road Initiative's extension into Latin America. The US, through military intervention, disrupted the political stability of this key node.
The core logic is to strengthen the US' discourse power as the dominant force in the Western Hemisphere through violent deterrence and political intervention.
Of course, this strategy will come with significant backlash. Latin American countries have long sought strategic autonomy and diverse cooperation options. The US' excessive militarized intervention could prompt these countries to reassess their foreign strategies, even to deepen their resistance to external intervention, thereby fostering closer South-South cooperation. Thus, the use of hard power does not necessarily lead to the expected strategic compliance but may instead exacerbate tensions and security predicament in the region.
In summary, this event is both a strong signal of the US' strategic intentions and a high-risk gamble in the US' adjustment of its global strategy. It represents a clear and thorough rejection of international cooperation and multilateral rules, and declares the US' determination to impose its "hard power" on the international order, use military force to redefine its geopolitical influence boundaries and return to "backyard hegemony".
Zhao Pu is an assistant researcher at the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
US 'neocolonialism' cannot conquer justice
US troops invaded Venezuela on Jan 3, illegally capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country. The US claimed it would prosecute them on US soil for facilitating drug trafficking, an act that not only severely undermines international law and tramples on international norms but also has profound implications for regional stability. At its core, the US aims to plunder Venezuela's abundant oil and gas reserves and reassert comprehensive control over the Western Hemisphere, essentially reenacting "neocolonialism" in the Americas.
Following the commencement of Trump's second term, the United States has significantly intensified its intervention and assertion of interests in the Western Hemisphere, introducing the "Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine", which vividly showcases the essence of hegemonism. The current Venezuelan government is seen as a cornerstone of the anti-American bloc, and for over two decades, the US has unsuccessfully attempted to achieve regime change in the country through various means.
During Trump's first term, the US supported opposition leader Juan Guaidó against the Maduro government, but the efforts failed. On resuming the presidency, Trump, confronted with global turmoil, urgently needs to establish US authority, gain tangible benefits and political capital, and fulfill the "America First" campaign promise, with Latin America being the easiest target for such endeavors.
By acting against Venezuela the US achieves a "triple win". First, Venezuela has abundant oil and gas reserves, from which the US can seize a large amount to gain substantial profits.
Second, overthrowing President Maduro serves as a deterrent to other Latin American countries that are not aligned with the US, warning them against opposing the US. Especially as an increasing number of Latin American countries attempt to pursue independent paths and explore mutually beneficial cooperation with major countries outside the region, the US aims to force Latin American countries to choose sides.
Third, it influences the regional political landscape by building a pro-American bloc. Latin American countries have entered a new era, with right-wing presidential candidates winning elections in Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Honduras in 2025; these newly elected leaders generally express a desire to strengthen cooperation with the US. As Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Costa Rica are set to hold elections in 2026, it is no surprise that the US seeks to expand its influence in the region to secure greater benefits.
However, such calculated maneuvers may backfire. Chilean President Gabriel Boric has condemned the US military operation in Venezuela and warned that "tomorrow it could be any other country".
More Latin American people are opposing the resurgence of the "Monroe Doctrine" and striving for an independent path. While might may overthrow a regime, it can never conquer the pursuit of justice.
深圳一公司高管违法开除员工？深圳市人社局通报 中新网1月12日电 深圳市人力资源和社会保障局微信公众号1月11日晚发布通报称，1月10日，有关“深圳一公司男高管违法开除男员工”的信息在网络平台流传，引发网民关注。 中新经纬2月18日电 广铁集团长沙火车站官方微博18日称，2024年2月18日4点24分，兰州开往广州的K225次列车到达长沙站，因列车上一些旅客未在票面到达站下车，继续乘车到前方站，造成列车超员。受其影响，部分正常购票旅客未能 今天《中国电子报》刊登西北工业大学校长、中国工程院院士宋保维署名文章《发挥教育科技人才优势 为建设制造强国贡献高校力量》现将文章登载如下，以飨读者。制造业是国家经济命脉所系，是立国之本、 新华社济南2月22日电（记者陈国峰、张钟仁）连日来，山东多地迎来大风降温和雨雪天气。21日，受降雪影响，济南西站部分列车降速运行，出现晚点情况。售票大厅内，记者看到“晚点停运车次退票”窗口前排起长龙。国 新华社记者徐海波、王自宸、宋立崑连日来，湖北省交通运输厅视频调度室里时常灯火通明，各项除雪保畅决策和指令第一时间下发到各路段。20日起，湖北自西向东将出现一轮大范围雨雪冰冻天气，局部地区将出现大 中新经纬2月22日电 据高检网22日消息，近日，中国铁路青藏集团有限公司原党委委员、职工董事、副总经理、工会主席贾军(副厅级)涉嫌受贿罪、行贿罪一案，经最高人民检察院指定管辖，由甘肃省庆阳市人民检察院依法向甘肃省 。本文链接：US actions signal a return to imperialism, colonialismhttp://www.sushuapos.com/show-5-84987-0.html
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