China and Spain have both stepped into the international spotlight this week, each taking a sharply defined stance on the unfolding situation in Venezuela and the broader dynamics shaping global alliances. Their statements, delivered on January 9, 2026, at official venues in Beijing and Madrid, reveal not only diverging attitudes toward the United States' actions in Latin America but also the shifting sands of international power and diplomacy.
At a regular press conference in Beijing, He Yadong, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, made it clear that China’s commitment to deepening economic and trade relations with Venezuela would remain steadfast, regardless of the South American nation’s shifting political landscape. According to Xinhua, He declared, “China’s willingness to continuously deepen economic and trade relations with Venezuela will remain unchanged regardless of changes in Venezuela’s political situation.” This statement came at a time when Venezuela’s internal affairs and its international relationships are under intense scrutiny, largely due to the United States’ recent interventions.
He Yadong did not mince words when addressing the role of the United States in the region. He criticized what he termed the “hegemonic acts” of Washington, saying they “seriously violate international law, infringe upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America.” In He’s view, these actions are not only unlawful but also destabilizing, casting a shadow over the prospects for peace in the hemisphere.
He further emphasized that the economic and trade cooperation between China and Venezuela is a matter strictly between sovereign nations, “protected by international law as well as the laws of both countries,” and that “no other country has the right to interfere.” This assertion underscores Beijing’s position that external powers—most pointedly the United States—should not meddle in the bilateral affairs of other sovereign states.
China’s approach to Latin America, He maintained, is grounded in “the principles of equality and mutual benefit,” and is not driven by a desire for spheres of influence or to target any third party. “Economic complementarity serves as the solid foundation for China-Latin America economic and trade cooperation, characterized by openness, inclusiveness and win-win results,” He explained, suggesting that the relationship is one of mutual advantage rather than domination or rivalry.
Looking to the future, He Yadong signaled that China intends to continue working closely with Latin American countries, not just Venezuela, to “respond to global changes through solidarity and cooperation,” aiming to “achieve common development.” This message of unity and shared progress stands in contrast to the more unilateral approach that Beijing attributes to Washington.
Meanwhile, across the globe in Madrid, King Felipe VI of Spain addressed the annual conference of ambassadors, which had brought together heads of Spanish diplomatic missions from around the world. His speech, as reported by EL PAÍS, was a sober reflection on the state of the transatlantic alliance between Europe and the United States—a bond he described as under threat.
Felipe VI warned of the “risk of dismantling” the vital transatlantic link, highlighting the consequences such a rupture would bring. He acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining this relationship, noting that it requires “great patience and diplomatic courage,” a phrase widely interpreted as a nod to the unpredictable and sometimes arbitrary behavior of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Tracing the roots of the alliance, the king called the transatlantic bond “an indispensable framework […] that emerged from the ashes of the Second World War,” which has “fostered the flourishing of democracies, stability, growth, and the development of multilateralism.” His remarks echoed a growing concern in European capitals that the United States’ recent foreign policy decisions, including its military intervention in Venezuela, could erode the trust and cooperation that have underpinned the Western alliance for decades.
Felipe VI insisted that preserving this bond is “a shared responsibility,” one that “demands mutual loyalty, reciprocal trust, a vision for the future, and respect for the ‘rules of the game’ which, always subject to improvement, are the norms of international law.” Though he avoided naming Washington directly, his words were widely interpreted as a veiled rebuke of the Trump administration’s recent actions.
“We all lose out from the erosion of this bond,” Felipe VI cautioned, alluding to the U.S.-European relationship. He left his audience to ponder the consequences, saying, “I don’t want to raise here what the hypothesis of its total dismantling would mean for everyone.” The implicit warning was clear: the unraveling of transatlantic ties could have profound and far-reaching effects, not just for Europe and the United States, but for the entire international order.
The king also used the occasion to announce the release of five Spanish citizens who had been detained in Venezuela. With this news, he turned his attention to the future of Venezuela itself, calling for “a genuine, peaceful, inclusive, and sovereign transition, respectful of the free and independent will of the Venezuelan people, to begin as soon as possible, with guarantees.” He stressed that the Venezuelan people “must be the sole protagonists of their own destiny,” underscoring Spain’s support for a process that is both democratic and free from external coercion.
The statements from Beijing and Madrid highlight the complex web of interests and values at play in the ongoing Venezuelan crisis. While China has positioned itself as a steadfast economic partner to Venezuela, firmly rejecting any outside interference, Spain has urged respect for international law and the will of the Venezuelan people, while also expressing concern about the broader implications of U.S. unilateralism.
What emerges from these parallel narratives is a world in flux, where old alliances are being tested and new partnerships are taking shape. China’s message is one of solidarity with Venezuela and Latin America, grounded in mutual benefit and legal sovereignty. Spain, meanwhile, is calling for a recommitment to the principles that have long underpinned the transatlantic alliance, even as it acknowledges the challenges posed by recent U.S. actions.
As the situation in Venezuela continues to evolve, the stances of China and Spain serve as reminders of the stakes involved—not only for Venezuelans, but for the international community as a whole. The choices made by global powers in the coming months will undoubtedly shape the contours of diplomacy, trade, and security in the years ahead.
