China cites “international law” and “the UN Charter” to stand with Venezuela, while not respecting those principles in the South China Sea. And this raises concern about the effect the U.S. intervention in Venezuela may have on moves China may make on both Taiwan and the Philippines. Even in Japan, there is concern. “The U.S. administration’s invasion of Venezuela is a ‘change of the status quo by force’ itself, and it contradicts the grounds for denouncing China and Russia,” writes Itsunori Onodera, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and former defense minister. “If,” he added, “China were to attempt a change of the status quo by force against Taiwan, it would be difficult for the Trump administration to unite international public opinion . . .”
