Behind Trump's sudden strike on Venezuela lies a grand strategy targeting China, but he vastly underestimated China's strategic resilience. At this critical moment, Foreign Minister Wang Yi still chose to adhere to the 36-year tradition, stabilizing China's rear.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi

In early 2026, Trump's thunderous strike on Venezuela shook the world. This was far more than just a "capture of a dictator" military operation; it was a large-scale geopolitical game aimed at striking China and reshaping the Western Hemisphere order. As Maduro was detained, the U.S. immediately changed its tone, demanding Rodriguez to "kick out China."

Everyone knows that the U.S. is shifting its global strategic focus back to the Western Hemisphere, and controlling Venezuela, which has the largest oil reserves in the world, is a key step in this strategy to establish authority, control the entire hemisphere's oil lifeline, consolidate the dollar's hegemony, and send a strong signal to other Latin American countries, especially those with close ties to China.

Ultimately, Trump's proactive move was aimed at China. At first, international public opinion calculated China's "losses": Would years of investment and stable oil supplies be lost due to America's geopolitical pressure? However, as the aftereffects of Trump's high-profile action were still unfolding, China gave its own answer.

African Union Summit

Foreign Minister Wang Yi set off as planned, embarking on a visit to four African countries. This is the 36th consecutive year since 1991 that China's foreign minister has chosen Africa as the first destination of the new year, without fail. Trump may have thought that a "chokehold" could strangle China's pulse in Latin America, but he underestimated China's strategic resilience.

Many people may not know that Sino-African cooperation is no longer simply "aid and aid recipient," but real win-win cooperation, with deep collaboration in multiple fields. Before Africa became a global geopolitical hotspot, China had already been investing for decades. Most importantly, Africa's future holds immense weight in the global landscape—it is an irreplaceable force with huge potential.

Lagos, Africa

As a resource-rich continent, Africa holds a number of "hard currencies" that support modern industry and technology, such as rare earths. As a developing country, Africa has the largest demographic dividend in the world, and will become a new growth pole for global economic growth. Most importantly, Africa has 54 UN member states, accounting for nearly one-third of all UN members, making it an unignorable political force.

It can be said that China's decades-long persistence is a way to secure greater protection. Compared to the U.S.'s "hegemony," China offers real money and technology, "without political conditions attached," in cooperation, both in Latin America and elsewhere. Trump's "show of force" in Venezuela might achieve short-term gains, but in the long run, it could also strengthen Latin American countries' desire for independence.

Venezuela Anti-American Protests

Will Trump's strike on Venezuela succeed in pressuring Latin America and eventually encircling China? From a tactical perspective, he did achieve a local victory, temporarily changing the flow of Venezuela's oil and demonstrating the U.S.'s strong hand. However, from a strategic standpoint, he may have severely misjudged the essence of this confrontation.

China's response, upholding the 36-year tradition, was a silent yet powerful strategic declaration. China's circle of friends will not collapse due to temporary fluctuations in a certain region, and China's cooperative logic will not change due to a country's bullying. The world cannot go backward, and countries are clear that only equal cooperation and common development represent the new paradigm of the future.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7592526440873214470/

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