Lessons for China and Taiwan from U.S. Actions Against Maduro, Iran

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Experts say the recent U.S. military operations against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and Iran's nuclear program hold important lessons for both China and Taiwan. They argue that in their "hubris", China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin did not expect the re-election of former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration was able to capture Maduro and destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities. The experts say Taiwan must learn from these events and prepare for a potential Chinese invasion by securing its leadership, building a large militia force, and developing long-range drones and torpedoes to defend against a PLA assault.

Why it matters

The lessons from the U.S. actions against Maduro and Iran are crucial for both China and Taiwan as they navigate an increasingly tense geopolitical landscape. For China, the operations demonstrate the capabilities of the U.S. military and the potential consequences of underestimating an adversary. For Taiwan, the lessons highlight the importance of comprehensive defense preparations, including securing leadership, building a robust militia, and developing advanced military technologies to deter and defend against a potential Chinese invasion.

The details

Experts say that in their "hubris", Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not expect the re-election of former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration was able to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and destroy Iran's nuclear program. They argue that these events hold important lessons for both China and Taiwan. For Taiwan, the experts say the country must prepare for a potential Chinese invasion by securing the safety of its president and vice president, building a large militia force equipped with sniper rifles and anti-air/armor weapons, and developing long-range drones and torpedoes to sink a PLA invasion fleet. They warn that Taiwan cannot rely on air power and decapitation alone to deter an invasion, and must build comprehensive defense capabilities.

• In 2023, at the height of their power projection, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin openly envisioned a future where they and their allies would dominate the world.
• In March 2026, Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was captured and is now cooling in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
• In March 2026, Iranian dictator Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his nuclear weapons program were destroyed.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Experts say Taiwan must quickly build a very large number of long-range loitering attack drones and autonomously guided torpedoes to defend against a potential Chinese invasion. They warn that Taiwan cannot rely on air power and decapitation alone, and must build comprehensive defense capabilities.