No, the Maduro Operation Wasn’t a Blow Against China

By: Michael Mazza | The Bulwark |

IN HIS DEFENSE OF OPERATION ABSOLUTE RESOLVE, the Trump administration’s capture of Nicolás Maduro, Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted, “you can’t turn Venezuela into the operation hub” for China and other adversaries. But while the United States strives to transform Venezuela into a country friendly to America, China may not see much of a loss.

The modern Chinese–Venezuelan relationship has its origins in Beijing’s thirst for oil and Caracas’s desire to diversify its export destinations. For much of the past quarter-century, the relationship was mutually beneficial. Venezuela gained access to foreign capital and China secured the energy it needed to sustain economic growth.

Read the full article on The Bulwark.