In a significant diplomatic gesture, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his full endorsement to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a meeting in Beijing in September 2023. Xi has characterized this support as “all-weather.” Amidst increasing political turbulence inside Venezuela, dramatic election results of December 2015 have led to a wave of protests and international condemnation from Western countries.
The meeting raised the level of the China-Venezuela relationship to an “all-weather strategic partnership.” Such a designation underscores China’s commitment to deepening ties with Venezuela, despite the political instability that has characterized Maduro’s regime. The endorsement is particularly notable in an election cycle that has raised questions about the validity of the outcomes themselves. This lack of accountability has further ignited a deep civil unrest sweeping the nation.
Mass protests have swept Venezuela in the election’s wake. Citizens are becoming increasingly vocal about their anger at what they perceive to be fraudulent activity. These outcomes have created mass civil discord throughout the nation. This has led them to outrageously incite vitriolic statements of condemnation from Western governments, further isolating and cornering Maduro politically. Critics can point to the results of the election as being non-credible, further complicating the already tenuous legitimacy of Maduro’s administration and any prospect thereof.
Xi Jinping’s support takes the firm political partnership between the two leaders to an ideological level. Chinese firms are reportedly exercising extreme caution when it comes to investing in Venezuela. The recent elections have left an aura of trepidation. This has cooled expectations among would-be investors, feeding fears that the spirit of economic cooperation will prove unsustainable. Despite the strategic partnership established during this high-profile meeting, the lack of confidence from Chinese enterprises poses a challenge for Maduro’s government as it seeks to stabilize its economy.
China and Venezuela share a deep relationship, rooted in mutual interests. Their relationship runs especially deep in strategic sectors such as oil and infrastructure. These deep-seated suspicions of the electoral process have fueled widespread civil unrest. For the success and continued vitality of this partnership, much will rest on the willingness and ability of Venezuelan authorities to address these domestic hurdles.