Why Chinese Weapons Underperformed in Venezuela and Iran
Military delegates arrive for the closing ceremony of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 13, 2024. Xi Jinping, the Party leader, has appointed himself head of a new committee on military reform. Goh Chai Hin/AFP/Getty Images
The United States carried out two major military operations in early 2026—first capturing then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, then conducting joint strikes with Israel against the Iranian regime. The military equipment sold by China performed poorly in both Venezuela and Iran.
Wang Youqun
Author
Wang Youqun holds a doctorate in law from the Renmin University of China. He previously worked as a copywriter for Wei Jianxing (1931–2015), a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee, from 1997 to 2002.
