Experts debated whether US action against Venezuela will embolden China in its pursuit of Taiwan.
Beijing may see a Taiwan invasion as easier for the world to swallow if global norms shift toward “tolerating more problematic behavior,” a Carnegie Endowment fellow argued.
Nicolás Maduro’s capture will also “vindicate” Beijing in its pursuit of a military and tech buildup, a veteran China reporter wrote.
But others pointed out that for Beijing, the issue of Taiwan — which it sees as a breakaway province — is domestic, and not a matter subject to international law or precedent.
Some in Taipei see Maduro’s capture as a deterrent against Chinese aggression, given that it showcased US military might against a country equipped with Chinese weapons.