Subject: Euro view on China/Venezuela
https://www.thetimes.com/us/ne...

First off, the Russians figured out what Trump was up to weeks ago and pulled their people…and didn’t tell the Chinese:

A few weeks earlier the US had reopened Roosevelt Roads, a naval base in Puerto Rico that had been closed for more than 20 years, and installed a high-tech radar unit at ANR Robinson airport in Tobago.

That an intervention was imminent was understood by Russia, one of Venezuela’s most enthusiastic partners over the last two decades. Towards the end of last month Moscow began pulling diplomats and their families out of the capital, Caracas.

Russia’s assessment of the situation, and its withdrawal of personnel, were not shared with Beijing, according to well-placed sources in China. This has caused eyebrows to be raised about what it means for a relationship between the two countries that is supposed to be “comprehensive”, “mutually beneficial” and “eternal”.

Hmm. Trouble in paradise.

Professor Jia Qingguo, former dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University and one of the most well-connected figures in Chinese strategic thinking, noted that while Russia’s isolation because of the war in Ukraine had brought economic benefits to China, these have come at a cost.

ADVERTISEMENT

In particular, he noted in an interview just before the Maduro operation that Moscow’s dependence on China has meant that the latter’s current and future relations with Europe have been compromised. As such, he added, a solution to the war in Ukraine would be of benefit to China.

…only if China wants to be the Panda-faced supplier of cheap goods to the EU.