Maduro’s Capture Sparks Debate Among Observers in China and Taiwan Over US Deterrence
Trump’s Venezuela operation has fueled speculation in Beijing and Taipei about whether Washington has set a new precedent for confronting authoritarian leaders.
Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are escorted, as they head toward the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan for an initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and others, at Downtown Manhattan Heliport, in New York City on Jan. 5, 2026. Adam Gray/Reuters
The U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and transported him to New York to face drug trafficking charges earlier this month has triggered a surge of debate among analysts and netizens in Taiwan and China over whether Washington has established a new precedent for dealing with authoritarian leaders.
Michael Zhuang
Author
Michael Zhuang is a contributor to The Epoch Times with a focus on China-related topics.
