Beijing issues fresh security update on Venezuela; companies told to reassess duty-of-care for China staff in South America

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ first press briefing of 2026, held at 21:12 Beijing time on 5 January, spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed that no Chinese nationals have so far been harmed by the armed conflict that erupted in Venezuela after U.S. strikes on 3 January. Nevertheless, the Foreign Ministry reiterated its advisory for Chinese citizens to “temporarily refrain from travelling” to Venezuela and urged those already in the country to heighten security precautions and stay in close contact with the Chinese Embassy in Caracas.

The advisory, first issued jointly by the Ministry and the embassy on 4 January, emphasises avoiding conflict zones and maintaining emergency preparedness. It follows the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, an act China condemned as a violation of international law.



For multinational employers the guidance triggers renewed duty-of-care obligations. HR and global mobility teams should (1) locate any Chinese assignees or travellers currently in Venezuela, (2) ensure they are enrolled in company security-tracking apps, and (3) review evacuation and medical-assistance contracts. Firms contemplating site visits related to oil-and-gas or infrastructure projects should postpone non-essential travel until risk levels are downgraded.

With Latin America an increasingly important destination under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the episode is a reminder that outbound travel risk management must keep pace with China’s accelerating international footprint. Many Chinese passport holders still rely on local travel agencies rather than corporate security briefings; companies may wish to mandate pre-trip security training and require staff to register itineraries with HQ before departure to high-risk destinations.