Venezuelan President Maduro met China’s envoy hours before unconfirmed U.S. strikes claimed to capture him.

On January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro met with China’s special envoy Qiu Xiaoqi at the Miraflores Palace hours before U.S. military strikes targeted Venezuela, according to reports. The meeting highlighted Venezuela’s strategic alignment with Beijing amid escalating U.S.-China rivalry in Latin America. China strongly condemned the U.S. actions, calling them a violation of sovereignty and international law, while the U.S. claimed it captured Maduro in a large-scale operation. Details remain unverified, with no official confirmation from either side, and the situation is under active review.