Within minutes of the Maduro government declaring victory in the July 28 Venezuelan elections, China congratulated him on “his successful reelection” and for “the smooth presidential election.” China rushed into its verdict even though according to the government only 80 percent of the results had been reported – meaning at least 2 million more votes were yet to be counted.
China’s reaction has been rejected by all Latin American countries except Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Cuba. China is also at odds with key BRICs partner Brazil and its Belt and Road partners Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Uruguay. The major economic powers in the continent – Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Brazil – have called for evidence of what they deem a fraudulent claim of victory. Even Mexico, famous for staying out of controversies, has asked to see the Electoral Council’s voting records.
China’s Belt and Road creates an attractive system for -and is likely aimed at- autocratic regimes, especially since it does not impose conditions of loosening state controls on the corporate sector and reducing clientelism. There is evidence that between 2014 and 2019, almost 80% of total Chinese infrastructure investing worldwide went to autocracies (or to countries with ‘semi-competitive’ elections). Beijing has no interest in democratic reforms in its partner countries, and this might be one major reason why the CCP supports Maduro.