Beijing Demands Maduro's 'Immediate Release,' Escalating Standoff Over U.S. Custody

BEIJING/NEW YORK – The Chinese Foreign Ministry has formally demanded the United States "immediately release" Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, creating a high-stakes diplomatic confrontation just days after their extraction to New York.

The ultimatum, issued shortly after U.S. forces detained Maduro in Caracas on January 3, 2026, during "Operation Absolute Resolve," condemns the action as a "hegemonic act" and a violation of international norms. Beijing’s stance creates a unified front with Moscow, which has characterized the operation as an "act of armed aggression," challenging the legitimacy of the U.S. Justice Department’s custody of the Venezuelan leader.

Despite this geopolitical pressure, the U.S. administration is moving rapidly to cement the legal reality of Maduro's incarceration. Following transport to the USS Iwo Jima and a subsequent flight to the U.S., Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Maduro faces immediate processing in the Southern District of New York on 2020 narco-terrorism charges. U.S. officials have framed the detention as a non-negotiable national security imperative to dismantle a "criminal enterprise," effectively signaling that diplomatic protests will not delay the arraignment process.

The clash raises immediate questions regarding the stability of Maduro’s custody status. While the U.S. intends to oversee a "proper and judicious transition" of power—implying a long-term legal strategy—the coordinated demand from two nuclear powers introduces a layer of volatility to the proceedings.

Observers are now watching for two specific indicators of U.S. resolve: the release of an official mugshot and the scheduling of initial court appearances early this week. Proceeding with these standard criminal justice steps would serve as a definitive rejection of Beijing’s demand for repatriation.