Trump's Venezuela Oil Move Ignites China Debt & Stake Crisis

• US President Donald Trump's claim over Venezuelan oil clashes with China's significant existing contracts and debt from Caracas.
• China is owed at least $10 billion by Venezuela, with state-owned firms China National Petroleum Corp. and Sinopec holding 4.4 billion barrels of oil reserves.
• The US seized oil tankers and plans to sell Venezuelan oil, depositing proceeds into US-controlled accounts for the Venezuelan people, aiming to curb "adversarial outside influence."
• Experts suggest Trump will likely avoid escalating Venezuela into a major trade "flashpoint" with China, prioritizing fragile trade relations.
• China condemns US actions against Maduro, vows continued economic cooperation, despite risks to its telecommunications, railways, and port investments in Venezuela.

Why It Matters: US control over Venezuela's oil creates a complex challenge for China's substantial debt and investments.