US strike on Venezuela to embolden Chinas territorial claims, Taiwan attack unlikely, analysts say

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A bird stands on a rock on Tamsui River, with explosive barrels placed by Taiwan military visible in the background, which are part of a series of emergency combat readiness drills, in response to China conducting \Justice Mission 2025\ military drills around Taiwan, in Taipei, Taiwan, December 31, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Jan 4 - The U.S. attack on Venezuela will embolden China to strengthen its territorial claims over areas such as Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea but will not hasten any potential invasion of Taiwan, analysts said.

Chinese President Xi Jinpings considerations about Taiwan and his timeline are separate from the situation in Latin America, influenced more by Chinas domestic situation than by U.S. actions, they said.

Still, analysts said, President Donald Trumps audacious attack on Saturday, capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, hands China an unexpected opportunity that Beijing will likely use in the near term to amplify criticism of Washington and bolster its own standing on the international stage.

Further out, Beijing could leverage Trumps move to defend its stance against the U.S. on territorial issues including Taiwan, Tibet and islands in the East and South China seas.

CHEAP AMMUNITION FOR A CHINA PUSHBACK

Washingtons consistent, long-standing arguments are always that the Chinese actions are violating international law but they are now damaging that, said William Yang, an analyst at