It seems to me that more serious domestic issues have just been sealed up here in the USA that has now freed up resources to pay more attention to what is going on in Venezuela. While I want Venezuela to be autonomous as well, Maduro is a scumbag, and in spite of me having no trust for them the CIA is not monolithic.
Some times intervention can be helpful if there is a light hand. I think the real issues come when it becomes an issue of dominating, creating endless wars, and removing national sovereignty. We only ever witness the shit shows. There have to be plenty of other successful interventions we have never even heard of.
The 'light hand' is key though, I don't want American boots in the ground where it doesn't make any sense to have Americans on the ground.
If we can't handle the problem through sending foreign aid, monetary payments to support the new interim President, etc --I don't think its a problem we should get involved in then.
My rule is always to try to steer clear of boots on the ground.
My opinion on the Chinese is: they need a business partner, not an inept that can't run a country and keep it in eternal poverty. I believe they learned the hard way under Mao about the dead end that killing the economy is by sticking to "real socialism" dogmas. They have become pragmatic with the economy and adopted capitalism, without political freedom. Like the United States, Venezuela has the largest debt with China. Under Chávez, the economy in Venezuela looked more or less good, and they started investing and made heavy loans backed with oil, as some correctly pointed, to have a beach head for south America/Caribbean. But under Maduro, everything went to a grinding halt. I have watched the official Chinese news channel (its on the free terrestrial digital broadcast TV) and they don't hide the economy mistakes of Maduro's regime, in fact they criticize it.
My point is, China already invested in Venezuela, and they need the economy of Venezuela to actually work, not fail like it is doing right now. Maduro in 6+ years have shown zero signs of understanding this. In my opinion, under a new government, China will remain and in fact finally start their business (banks, rail construction, etc), because the debt is too large for the transitional government to get rid of them, so its simpler to comply with the agreements and let them do business along the Americans and Europeans who will undoubtedly come (Actually only the Americans left, the Europeans are still involved in the drilling oil business in the Orinoco belt region).
Eh, I don't know about the last part about China. I think China is going to stay neutral in this (though I've seen stories saying they're supporting Maduro) only due to the fact that if Maduro falls, US businesses (and other western nations) are going to come in as they know they'll be able too. Who knows what's going to happen, this is a crazy situation like no other.
Yes China
is staying neutral wants to LOOK neutral, instead of supporting Maduro. That says A LOT. If it had been Chavez, they would have reacted like Russia. Unlike China, Russia has almost no investments in Venezuela. Venezuela has bought weapons and allowed a few housing building projects from Russia, but that's about it. They have also loaned very little money compared to China. They have some oil drilling like everybody else in the Orinoco belt region.
As for boots, nowadays you can military intervene without risking a single human (from your side). Aside from the classic manned air strikes, there are now unmanned air strikes. If the EU gets involved, as its starting too look like, then NATO could also be potentially involved; should Maduro remain stubborn. Then you get a repeat of Libya, where they mostly provided support from air while rebels on the ground seized power. The big difference is the Venezuelan opposition is unarmed, unlike the Libyans, so i don't know much about that scenario. But the chance that this could occur, can be enough to crack the de-facto gov. After all, there is unhappiness within "Maduro" ranks, and he has witch hunted and imprisoned 100+ military people. There are even rumors that the ministry of defense could turn at any moment. And unlike Chávez, Maduro is a civilian, and quite inept at commanding or inspiring troops.
The chance is big that this will be resolved peacefully with a strong hand, as in, expect a surrender at the last moment when they see it coming for real. Yes, there could be a few guerrilla groups here and there causing trouble later, but this the transitional government will have to deal with afterwards.
BREAKING 🔴 President Trump's Secretary of State Mike Pompeo makes Unprecedented Move on the World Stage regarding Venezuela at the UN Security Council