Even as China eyes new opportunities to build global influence in the wake of the U.S. attack on Venezuela, Beijing’s immediate priority is protecting its economic interests, analysts said. China reacted swiftly to the military strike on Saturday night, expressing shock and condemnation. Beijing subsequently called on the U.S. to release the ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and urged Washington to resolve the crisis through dialogue. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing Monday that China maintains “positive communication and cooperation” with the Venezuelan government and that its willingness to deepen cooperation, including on oil exports, would not change regardless of how the situation evolves. He added that Chinese interests in Venezuela would be protected under the law.

Full report : The U.S. attack on Venezuela puts Beijing’s local commercial interests in the spotlight.