A prominent Chinese Latin America specialist has condemned recent United States actions against Venezuela’s leadership as a violation of international legal standards that establishes a concerning historical precedent. Dr. Sun Yanfeng, Director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, characterized Washington’s operation as another instance of the U.S. elevating its domestic legislation above established international law.
In an exclusive interview with The Paper, Dr. Sun criticized the American justification for the action, noting that the U.S. relied solely on its own judicial orders and narcotics trafficking allegations under domestic statutes without presenting internationally verifiable evidence. The analyst emphasized that fundamental principles of international relations—specifically the sovereign equality of nations and the prohibition against interference in internal affairs—explicitly forbid the extraterritorial application of national laws against sitting heads of state.
The expert drew parallels to a historically significant event from 1989, when United States military forces invaded Panama and apprehended its leader on similar drug-related charges. Dr. Sun described this earlier intervention as establishing a ‘dangerous precedent’ that now appears to be repeating itself in the Venezuelan context.
Beyond the surface-level narcotics enforcement narrative, Dr. Sun identified broader geopolitical motivations behind Washington’s actions. He asserted that the operation serves strategic American objectives aimed at diminishing Venezuela’s influence as a regional actor that frequently opposes U.S. policies while maintaining close diplomatic and economic ties with both China and Russia.
This development represents what the analyst considers the first direct U.S. intervention in Latin America during the 21st century, occurring shortly after the implementation of Washington’s newly updated national security strategy. The timing suggests a potential shift in American foreign policy approach toward the region that could have significant implications for international relations and regional stability.