China's immediate priority in the wake of the U.S. attack on Venezuela is to protect economic interests, analysts said.

Still, US President Donald Trump's audacious attack on Saturday, in which Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was captured, hands China an unexpected opportunity that Beijing would likely use in the near term to amplify criticism of Washington and bolster its own standing on the international stage, analysts said.

The US’s shock intervention in Venezuela will likely choke oil flows to China, although the short-term impact will be softened by large volumes of sanctioned crude being stored at sea.

Beijing has lent billions to Caracas in recent decades, and the fate of money it is owed is in question after the ouster of Venezuela’s leader.

China is a major customer of and investor in Venezuela's oil sector, which President Donald Trump aims to revive following the U.S. military's ouster of President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday.

First, the country must kick out China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba and sever economic ties, the sources said. Second, Venezuela must agree to partner exclusively with the U.S. on oil production and favor America when selling heavy crude oil, they added.

China, a longtime ally of Venezuela, condemned the U.S. strike and capture of President Nicolás Maduro, which came hours after a high-level diplomatic meeting.