The Curious Timing of Qiu Xiaoqi’s Visit to Caracas

China's Special Envoy for Latin America Qiu Xiaoqi met with deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at Miraflores Palace in Caracas on January 2, 2025, a few hours before the U.S. launched a military intervention. Image via the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

One of the more curious aspects of the story of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s downfall involves China’s Special Envoy to Latin America, Qiu Xiaoqi, who met with the deposed leader just hours before he was detained by U.S. Special Forces.

Although few people outside of the Chinese government know for certain if the timing of Qiu’s visit was merely a coincidence or if he went specifically to warn Maduro about an impending U.S. intervention.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
3 Chinese Scholars See Russia’s Venezuela Strategy as a Model of Hybrid Power Projection in the U.S.’ Backyard
4 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
5 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
6
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors

You Might Like

Maduro’s Fall Tests China’s Influence in Washington’s Backyard

The United States government’s rationale for last Friday’s military incursion into Venezuela to detain President Nicolás Maduro has evolved over the months from combating narco-terrorism to asserting control over the country’s vast oil ...

China Calls for End of U.S. Sanctions Against Venezuela, Cuba

China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday called on the United States to revoke its “Illegal and unilateral” sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba. The statement came after the announcement that the Trump administration will designate Cartel de ...

U.S. Warns on Chinese Energy Role During High-Level Venezuela Visit

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged expanded American investment in Venezuela’s oil and gas sector during the highest-level U.S. energy-focused visit to the country in nearly three decades, following its invasion in January. He ...

Final Biden-Xi Meeting Draws Red Lines as Latin America Braces for Trump

The last official meeting between outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping was officially framed as looking back at the last four years of the relationship. However, Xi also used ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP
IP: Detecting...
Cookie Exists: Checking...
Cookie Value: Checking...