In a bombshell Senate testimony, Marco Rubio, the incoming US Secretary of State, unveiled the hidden dynamics fueling China’s rise through Venezuela’s oil bounty. Under Maduro’s iron grip, the oil-rich nation became a haven for adversarial powers, with China gorging on heavily discounted barrels – sometimes as low as $20 off market value, or bartered against massive debts.

‘Our hemisphere hosted a narco-state operation hub for global foes,’ Rubio declared, emphasizing the regime’s transformation into a launchpad for Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran. This wasn’t mere trade; it was a strategic incursion, handing China cheap energy to fuel its ambitions mere miles from US shores.

The US response was swift and surgical: oil export curbs that ended the fire-sale deals. China can still import, but only at fair market rates. Sanctioned proceeds now sit in supervised accounts, destined for humanitarian aid to Venezuelans suffering under Maduro.

Rubio dissected China’s broader strategy – economic entrapment via debt traps in vital sectors like telecom and mining. But cracks are showing: Panama ditches Belt and Road, Latin leaders pivot away. America’s mission? Neutralize Venezuela as an enemy foothold, restoring hemispheric security and countering the cheap-oil pipeline that supercharged China’s power play.