January 7, 2026
The recent detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the United States violates diplomatic conventions and the most fundamental principles of international law. His transfer to the U.S. for trial further indicates that a worrying threshold has been crossed in the global system.
The ""forcible abduction"" of a head of state by the law enforcement forces of another nation goes beyond a clear violation of sovereign rights; it signals a dangerous era where ""the rule of force"" replaces international norms.
Analyses regarding this unlawful act suggest that this U.S. intervention will set a precedent and that major powers will take similar steps in neighboring geographies. Unfortunately, Western-centric media outlets and certain think tanks are seizing this chaotic situation as an opportunity to turn their focus toward the People's Republic of China, bringing up the Taiwan issue, which is a completely unrelated context.
Preposterous claims such as ""The U.S. intervened in Venezuela, so China will invade Taiwan in response"" lack any geopolitical basis and are intended to manipulate public opinion.
At this point, it is essential to underline two fundamental truths:
First, the foreign policy doctrine of the People's Republic of China is built upon the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The People's Republic of China has never, at any point in its history, engaged in military intervention in other countries for the purpose of natural resource exploitation or regime change, nor has it pursued a destructive imperial agenda. China's rise is occurring not through military occupations, but through trade, technology, and mutual development projects. Therefore, comparing China with the West's interventionist habits is a historical and political error.
Second and most importantly, the Taiwan issue is not a conflict between two sovereign states as in the Venezuela example, but is an internal matter of China. By virtue of its history, culture, ethnic structure, and the ""One China"" principle accepted by international law, Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. While the People's Republic of China has set peaceful reunification with Taiwan as a primary goal, portraying this process as an ""occupation"" or ""invasion"" distorts the context completely. Just as the effort of foreign powers to intervene in this domestic issue is wrong, associating the lawlessness experienced in Venezuela with Taiwan is equally malicious.
No credence should be given to these scenarios produced regarding China, which are used to legitimize the U.S.'s actions that disregard the sovereignty of other nations or to divert attention.
For Türkiye, we must continue to deepen our relations with China within the framework of respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual benefit principles. Responding to those who wish to drag our region and the world into chaos by defending international law and diplomacy will be the most correct stance.
Hasan ÇAPAN, President of TCFF
"