The CCP Politburo holds “collective study sessions” on a semi-regular basis, in which an outside academic or government expert leads a discussion on a selected topic. Such sessions can signal which issues the senior leadership considers to be important. On April 28, 2026, Xi Jinping presided over the 25th collective study session of the 20th Central Committee. Xi delivered a speech emphasizing the need to enhance disaster preparedness and protect lives and property.

Zha Daojiong, a professor at Peking University, casts doubt on Venezuela’s significance in the international oil market, noting that not only has Venezuela’s daily crude oil output declined severely over the past three decades, but its claims of oil reserves are also viewed with skepticism within the industry. Zha argues that by strengthening energy cooperation with China, Venezuela can reduce its reliance on the U.S. oil market and “promote the diversification” of its foreign investment. To promote stable China-Venezuela energy cooperation amid the challenging operating environment in Venezuela, Zha urges Chinese companies should utilize existing arbitration mechanisms to protect their interests.

This is one of six pieces published by the journal of Contemporary International Relations following an academic seminar titled “U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela and Its Impacts.” The other five pieces are also available on the Interpret: China platform. The journal is published by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a Chinese think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security.

Zhao Hongtu, a researcher at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, which is a bureau of the Ministry of State Security, argues that oil was “a medium” of U.S. military action in Venezuela rather than its ultimate objective, serving as an instrument through which President Trump could establish control over Venezuela. Zhao reasons that the U.S. operation sought to achieve both domestic and international aims. He anticipates the United States will be able to import more Venezuelan oil in the short-term, but argues that over the longer term, economic, political and historical factors will constrain the country’s capacity for oil production.

This is one of six pieces published by the journal of Contemporary International Relations following an academic seminar titled “U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela and Its Impacts.” The other five pieces are also available on the Interpret: China platform. The journal is published by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a Chinese think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security.

Zhou Zhiwei, a researcher at the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, analyzes the impacts of U.S. policy in Latin America, positing that the United States has adopted a more interventionist and aggressive approach under President Trump’s second term, which conflicts with Latin American countries’ core interests in security and development. He argues that U.S. policy in the region has led to increased political, economic, and regional security risks. Zhou concludes that the aggressive U.S. approach to the region may result in short-term gains, but the “new Monroe Doctrine” under Trump will ultimately lead to an increase in anti-American sentiment and strategic autonomy of Latin American countries as they reject U.S. influence.

This is one of six pieces published by the journal of Contemporary International Relations following an academic seminar titled “U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela and Its Impacts.” The other five pieces are also available on the Interpret: China platform. The journal is published by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a Chinese think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security.

Yang Shouguo, a scholar with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, which is a bureau of the Ministry of State Security, outlines the implementation of the “Donroe Doctrine” under President Trump’s second term, contending that the approach is characterized by a prioritization of the Western Hemisphere and desire for absolute control over the region. He argues the “Donroe Doctrine” marks a shift from conducting interference under the banner of “American rules and values” to coercive control based on “force and power.” observing the doctrine also links U.S. domestic priorities with Latin America and incorporates new policy tools. Yang posits that, within this context, Latin American countries will face dual pressures of maintaining autonomy and navigating great power competition.

This is one of six pieces published by the journal of Contemporary International Relations following an academic seminar titled “U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela and Its Impacts.” The other five pieces are also available on the Interpret: China platform. The journal is published by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a Chinese think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security.

Xu Shuai, a professor at the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University in Beijing, offers a detailed description of the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife from their heavily fortified residence. Calling this operation a “lightning strike,” Xu elaborates on four aspects of the U.S. military tactics that enabled it and assesses Venezuelan intelligence and military blunders before and during the operation. He concludes by naming several “strategic errors” that the United States committed despite its operational success.

This is one of six pieces published by the journal of Contemporary International Relations following an academic seminar titled “U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela and Its Impacts.” The other five pieces are also available on the Interpret: China platform. The journal is published by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a Chinese think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security.

Fan Jishe, a professor at the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, writes that President Trump has elevated the Western Hemisphere to the top position in his national security strategy. Fan argues the United States is therefore preparing to “retreat” from the Middle East and Europe and “consolidate” its position in the Americas. Fan argues that Venezuela is the focal point on which U.S. domestic and regional policy agendas intersect, and that the United States’ 2026 military action against Venezuela was intended to advance the U.S. position in the great power strategic competition between the United States and China.

This is one of six pieces published by the journal of Contemporary International Relations following an academic seminar titled “U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela and Its Impacts.” The other five pieces are also available on the Interpret: China platform. The journal is published by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a Chinese think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security.

Zhou Zhiwei, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, traces the evolution of the U.S. Monroe Doctrine and examines its implications for contemporary China-Latin America relations. He argues that while the doctrine initially emphasized mutual non-interference, it has evolved into a tool of U.S. hegemony centered on security, dominance, and alliance building in the Western Hemisphere. He contends that in his second term, Trump has employed a coercive, securitized application of the doctrine, increasing pressure on Latin America and seeking to constrain China-Latin America cooperation. Despite these challenges, Zhou concludes that China-Latin America cooperation will continue to expand due to Latin America’s growing autonomy, economic complementarity with China, and the shared interests of the Global South.

This is one of five pieces published by the Journal of Latin American Studies as part of a compendium titled “The ‘New Monroe Doctrine’ and China-U.S.-Latin America Relations.” The other four pieces are also available on the Interpret: China platform.

Two researchers at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) argue that recent discussions of China-Latin America relations in U.S. academic and strategic communities have increasingly promoted negative narratives related to China. The authors claim that countering China has become “the starting point” for U.S. policymaking in Latin America, as evidenced by a flurry of official statements, legislative activities, resource reallocation, and broad-based government initiatives. They conclude China-Latin America relations face growing uncertainty due to U.S. efforts to exclude China from the region, which they say could harm the interests of the United States, China, and Latin America alike.

Xie Wenze, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), argues that a key component of President Trump’s “New Monroe Doctrine” is constraining China-Latin America economic and trade cooperation. Xie proposes an updated framework of what he calls the “two-ring strategy,” in which the United States relies on expanded control of the Western Hemisphere and dollar dominance to maintain its strategic advantage. He concludes by offering a roadmap for deepening China-Latin America ties to counteract the growing U.S. regional influence, including the periodic deployment of Chinese military ships to Latin America.

This is one of five pieces published by the Journal of Latin American Studies as part of a compendium titled “The ‘New Monroe Doctrine’ and China-U.S.-Latin America Relations.” The other four pieces are also available on the Interpret: China platform.