On January 9, 2026, Venezuela's Executive Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, held a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Venezuela, Lan Hu. This significant diplomatic engagement occurred just days after reports emerged that US forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3, 2026, transporting them to New York to face charges. The Global Times, a Chinese state-run newspaper, reported on this meeting, framing Rodríguez as "Venezuela's acting president." However, this designation is misleading; Delcy Rodríguez is the Executive Vice President of Venezuela, and Nicolás Maduro was the internationally recognized President, particularly by China. Juan Guaidó, who was recognized as an interim president by some nations from 2019, ceased to hold that status in January 2023. The meeting served to underline the strong and unwavering strategic partnership between China and Venezuela. Rodríguez expressed gratitude for China's strong condemnation of the US aggression against Venezuela, which Beijing has denounced as a blatant violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated China's firm opposition to what it perceives as 'hegemonic behavior' and 'unilateral coercive measures' by the United States. This diplomatic interaction, following a period of intense geopolitical tension and military action involving the US, China, and Venezuela, sends an important signal of China's commitment to its long-standing ally and its vision for a multipolar world. The broader context includes China's substantial economic and energy investments in Venezuela and its historical support for the Maduro regime against international isolation and sanctions.