Donald Trump says ‘it’s up to’ Xi Jinping what China does in Taiwan

But ‌I’ve expressed to ‌him that I would ‌be very ‍unhappy ⁠if he ​did that, and I ⁠don’t think he’ll ⁠do that. I hope he doesn’t do ‌that.”

How China has reacted

China has sharply criticised recent US actions in Venezuela and rejected comparisons between Washington’s operation there and Beijing’s claims over Taiwan.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China’s State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the United States had breached international law by using force against a sovereign state.

“We firmly oppose this,” Chen said at a regular briefing on Wednesday, according to China Daily.

At the same time, Chen warned pro-independence groups in Taiwan, saying: “If ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces dare to take reckless actions and cross the red line, we will take resolute measures and deliver a head-on blow.”

Why analysts are concerned

Some analysts say the US operation in Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and moves to take control of the country’s oil industry, could embolden Beijing.

Tony Zhao, a senior fellow at Carnegie China, said Washington’s description of the Venezuela operation as law enforcement “closely mirrors China’s own legal characterisation of its plans against Taiwan”.

Emily Thornberry, chair of the UK parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told BBC Radio 4 that the US strike on Venezuela was “not a legal action” and could encourage China and Russia.

“It sets a terrible precedent and [is] really worrying,” she said.

China and Taiwan

China claims Taiwan as its territory and says it should be reunified with the mainland. Taiwan has its own democratically elected government, military and political system, and says its people should decide their future.

Beijing describes Taiwan as an internal matter, while most Western countries, including the UK, recognise China diplomatically but oppose any unilateral change to the status quo, especially by force.