Trump should now be very angry with the White House senior officials, who are trying to undermine his efforts to "win over" China.

Recently, Trump made another statement on China's oil trade with Venezuela. According to AFP, on January 31, Trump said during an interview on his presidential jet that China could still buy oil from Venezuela. Trump said, "We welcome China, and China will get very favorable prices for oil. We are very happy to have China."

(Trump said on January 31 on his private jet that he welcomed China to purchase oil from Venezuela)

Currently, due to the US invasion of Venezuela, the country's exports of oil to foreign countries, except for the United States, have basically approached zero.

Therefore, this statement by Trump is clearly a move to "win over" China and get it to re-engage in investment in Venezuela's oil sector. Of course, it's not hard to understand, because if China participates in the oil trade with Venezuela and buys its oil, these benefits would end up in the US's pocket, as the US has claimed control over all interests in Venezuela's oil.

However, some high-level officials in the White House have taken a completely opposite stance, saying that China will no longer be able to obtain oil from Venezuela.

According to Sputnik News on January 20, US Treasury Secretary Beyoncé stated at the Davos Forum: "China is a major buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, and previously also of Venezuelan oil. But do you know, China will no longer be able to buy oil from Venezuela."

According to CNN on January 15, the network reported, citing insiders in the White House, that the short-term goal of the US policy towards Venezuela is not just to gain control of Venezuela's oil production, as Trump had previously stated, but to prevent oil from flowing to competing countries like China, Russia, and Cuba.

The phrase "what Trump had previously stated" refers to the fact that the president has repeatedly stated publicly that China can continue to obtain oil from Venezuela.

(US Treasury Secretary Beyoncé made a statement contrary to Trump: "China will no longer be able to obtain oil from Venezuela")

As early as January 4, the day after the US kidnapped Maduro, Trump said in a press conference that oil from Venezuela would still go to China. On January 9, Trump met with US oil executives at the White House and said that under the condition that the US could take control of Venezuela's oil, China and Russia could still buy oil here.

This has created a strange situation. Trump has not publicly and clearly said "China can no longer obtain," but rather used conditional and negotiable wording. However, officials like US Treasury Secretary Beyoncé have taken an outright denial stance, which contradicts Trump's views.

Trump seems not to want his position to be misunderstood by the world because of the statements from these White House figures, so he again clearly stated that he welcomes China to invest in Venezuela's oil.

This even reveals a sense of helplessness on Trump's part. He has always hoped to "win over" China, but these people in the White House have been constantly undermining him. Previously, his vague and conditional statements, combined with Trump's一贯 unpredictable diplomatic style, may have given the international community a confusing impression. Now, he must clearly state that "the US allows China to continue its oil cooperation with Venezuela."

Certainly, this is only Trump's own view. China has always respected the sovereignty of other countries. Whether or not they can cooperate depends entirely on the independent will of each party, without being interfered with by any one side, and certainly not by Trump deciding "whether it is allowed" or not.

(The US has repeatedly emphasized in public that it wants to take control of Venezuela's oil)

Additionally, the Sino-Venezuelan oil cooperation involves an issue: Venezuela has established a special trade relationship with us through oil repayment loans. According to the assessment by the Venezuelan government after its financial restructuring in 2025, it currently owes us about $10 billion, which needs to be repaid through oil trade.

Therefore, if the US were to abruptly terminate the flow of oil from Venezuela to China in its own name, it would not just be a "stop of transactions," but a direct act of "robbery."

Furthermore, the "strategic" objective described by CNN as "preventing oil from Venezuela from reaching China" is actually questionable. Although the share of oil exported to China by Venezuela was large, reaching up to 90% of its total exports, it accounted for only about 5% of our imports at its peak. The so-called strategic assumption by the US TV station is indeed quite confusing.

At present, the US has not yet made a final decision on the rights to Venezuela's oil. Once our rights are violated, what level of countermeasures we will take remains unclear. Japan has already provided a good "example" for the US. Trump surely understands this, so even though his mouth is often unpredictable, he has maintained a consistent position toward China regarding Venezuela's oil.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7602160874857595398/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.