On January 3, 2026, the United States launched a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicholas Maduro and an escalation in U.S.-Venezuela tensions. This intervention has sparked intense global debate – raising questions about international law, sovereignty, and the use of force. It also highlighted the broader implications of intensifying U.S.–China competition across Latin America.
In an event held on January 9, 2026, Margaret Myers and Tong Zhao, in conversation with Jesse Marks, discuss how this unexpected U.S. military action is reshaping strategic calculations in Beijing and Washington, what it may signal for Taiwan, and what these developments mean for the future of U.S.-China relations.