WORLD

China Issues Travel Warning for Venezuela Following U.S. Strikes

Published: Jan. 4, 2026 12:03 p.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

Thick smoke rises from a dock at the port of La Guaira, Venezuela, after an explosion was heard on Jan. 3, 2026, local time. Photo: Visual China Group

The Chinese government advised its citizens Saturday to avoid travel to Venezuela following U.S. military strikes that Washington says resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

The warning, issued by the foreign ministry’s Department of Consular Affairs, cited a significant rise in security risks after the U.S. launched operations against targets in Caracas early Jan. 3. The ministry urged Chinese citizens and institutions already in the country to heighten security measures, stay indoors and avoid conflict zones.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

The U.S. launched military strikes in Caracas on Jan. 3, 2026, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife; both face drug trafficking charges in U.S. courts.
China warned its citizens to avoid Venezuela due to increased security risks; no Chinese casualties reported.
International response was divided, with condemnation from Cuba and Russia, calls for restraint from the EU, and the U.S. maintaining a large military presence in the Caribbean.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When

November 2025：: The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group arrived in the Caribbean, marking the beginning of a significant U.S. military buildup in the region.

Early 2026-01-03：: The U.S. launched military operations against targets in Caracas, Venezuela, including strikes and disabling multiple military facilities.

Approximately 4 a.m. ET on 2026-01-03：: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had successfully executed a large-scale strike in Venezuela and that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been taken into U.S. custody.

By 2026-01-03：: Chinese government issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid travel to Venezuela due to heightened security risks following the U.S. military strikes.

As of Saturday, 2026-01-03：: No casualties had been reported among Chinese enterprises or personnel in Venezuela, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Saturday morning, 2026-01-03：: U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism.

As of 2026-01-03：: Colombian President Gustavo Petro noted that power outages were affecting parts of Caracas.

As of 2026-01-03：: U.S. media estimate that more than 10 warships and 15,000 troops are operating in the Caribbean, the largest U.S. military concentration in the region since 1989.

AI generated, for reference only