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US Department of Justice federal officers stand guard outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, where ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is being held, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, on January 4, 2026. Venezuela's deposed president Nicolas Maduro is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in New York at noon on January 5, to be formally notified about the charges against him, the court said. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized by US forces during a pre-dawn raid on January 3 in Caracas and brought to New York to face charges of "narcoterrorism" tied to alleged trafficking of tons of cocaine into the United States. - AFP

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing cannot accept any country acting as the "world's judge" after the United States captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro.

"We have never believed that any country can act as ‌the world's police, nor do we accept that any nation can ⁠claim to be the world's judge," Wang told his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday (Jan 4), referring to "sudden developments in ​Venezuela" without directly mentioning the US.

"The sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law," China's top diplomat added, in his first remarks since images of the 63-year-old Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed on Saturday stunned Venezuelans.

Maduro is in a New York detention centre awaiting a Monday court appearance on drug charges.

Beijing has ambition to become a diplomatic heavyweight, a goal it articulated most clearly after brokering a surprise rapprochement between ‍Saudi Arabia and Iran ⁠in 2023, pledging ‍to "play ​a constructive role in global hotspot issues."

Analysts say Beijing's success in going ⁠toe-to-toe with the US in trade negotiations has only reinforced China's confidence.

However, President Donald Trump's assertion that the US will oversee Venezuela's government for the time being poses a stern test to the "all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership" Beijing and Caracas ‍struck in 2023, marking almost 50 years ‍of diplomatic ties.

"It was a big blow to China, we wanted to look like a dependable friend ‌to Venezuela," said a Chinese government official briefed on a meeting between Maduro and China's special representative for Latin American ⁠and Caribbean affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi, hours before his capture.

Maduro's son visited China's top-ranking Peking University in 2024, where he enrolled in 2016, they said, adding they were unsure whether he would return despite years of diplomatic engagement with Caracas ⁠around his education and ties to China.

The world's second-largest economy has provided Venezuela with an economic lifeline since the US and its allies ramped up sanctions in 2017, purchasing roughly US$1.6  billion worth of goods in 2024, the most recent full-year data available.

Almost half of China's purchases were crude oil, customs data ‍shows, while its state-owned oil giants had invested around US$4.6 billion in Venezuela by 2018, according ⁠to data from the American Enterprise Institute think tank, which tracks Chinese overseas corporate investment. - Reuters

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China racing ahead in Britain

 

Keith’s BYD car dealership in Leeds, England. In the last year, Chinese-made vehicles have doubled their share of new car registrations in Britain. — Owen Richards/The New York Times

ON a recent Monday in Leeds, Dougal Keith drove a Chinese-made BYD Seal Excellence out of his dealership and hit the accelerator.

The car can reach 100kph in 3.8 seconds – a key selling point – and comes with a £48,000 price tag, roughly 20% cheaper than a top-range Tesla Model 3.

Keith, a car salesman for more than 40 years, said customers were sceptical of buying Chinese vehicles when he opened a showroom for BYD in 2023.

Now, he runs six dealerships devoted to the brand.

“Some people think because it’s Chinese it’s made cheaply,” he said. “But then I ask, ‘Where do you think your iphone is assembled?’”

Chinese cars are gaining ground in Britain for a mix of reasons.

There are no steep tariffs on Chinese EVS – unlike in the EU or the US – allowing lower prices. British buyers are also less brand-loyal, with no major domestic mass-market automaker to defend.

Roughly a dozen Chinese brands, including BYD, Chery and Geely, made up 13% of new car registrations in Britain in November, double their share a year ago, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

“The pace is like nothing the market has ever seen,” said Ian Plummer, chief commercial officer of Autotrader.

BYD and Chery, selling Jaecoo and Omoda models, are gaining market share five or six times faster than Tesla a decade ago or South Korea’s Kia in the 1990s.

Britain’s domestic auto industry has been shrinking, producing about 600,000 cars in 2025, roughly half of the output at the end of the last decade.

Major producers include Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover and Mini.

Meanwhile, China is now the world’s largest car exporter and leads in EV production, exporting to markets from Mexico to South Africa.

Chinese automakers have mastered shifting regulations and consumer demand, particularly for hybrids.

Beijing encourages exports to manage domestic overcapacity, sometimes leading to heavy losses and triggering pushback in Western countries.

The US has imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese EVS, the EU up to 45%, while Britain charges 10% on all imported cars.

About two million new cars are sold in Britain each year.

Since 2019, the number of brands registering sales has nearly doubled to over 70.

No single brand commands loyalty like Volkswagen in Germany or Renault in France, giving newcomers room to grow.

Chinese brands first gained a foothold with SAIC Motor’s acquisition of MG.

Production gradually moved to China, and the UK MG factory closed in 2016.

MG now accounts for over 4% of new registrations – the largest share for a Chinese-owned brand – while BYD holds just over 2%, similar to Tesla.

Keith sold his first car in 1980 at 16 and later expanded his family business.

By the early 2020s, he noticed BYD and,

“Some people think because it’s Chinese it’s made cheaply. But then I ask, ‘Where do you think your iphone is assembled?’”

Dougal Keith

with other independent dealers, secured one of the first UK franchises.

Initially, sales were slow, with only an all-electric model available.

As more models arrived, particularly plug-in hybrids, sales surged.

Dealers highlighted tech features: rotatable touch screens, wireless chargers, voice controls, even karaoke.

“Customers are beginning to understand it’s not a budget brand,” said Fozia Siddique, who has worked with BYD since the Leeds showroom opened.

She recently sold a BYD plug-in hybrid SUV to Steve Vine, 55, who drives more than 480km from Leeds to Cornwall and wanted a long-range EV.

Roger Lyons, 60, in Derbyshire, chose a £48,000 BYD Seal Excellence after testing Audi, Hyundai and Porsche models.

“It’s almost as nice to drive as a Porsche, and it’s got more toys than any of the others,” he said, adding that switching to electric would help cut fuel costs.

Encouraged by the success of BYD, Keith opened two more dealerships selling Changan vehicles.

His group, which runs 28 dealerships selling global brands, expects £500mil in sales for 2025, over 50% higher than 2024.

In September, the Leeds BYD showroom outsold all his other local locations.

“It’s pretty good going for a brand that two years ago nobody had heard of,” he said. — ©2026 The New York Times Company

By ESHE NELSON This article originally appeared in The New York Times

3 Jan 2026

China racing ahead in Britain

 

Keith’s BYD car dealership in Leeds, England. In the last year, Chinese-made vehicles have doubled their share of new car registrations in Britain. — Owen Richards/The New York Times

ON a recent Monday in Leeds, Dougal Keith drove a Chinese-made BYD Seal Excellence out of his dealership and hit the accelerator.

The car can reach 100kph in 3.8 seconds – a key selling point – and comes with a £48,000 price tag, roughly 20% cheaper than a top-range Tesla Model 3.

Keith, a car salesman for more than 40 years, said customers were sceptical of buying Chinese vehicles when he opened a showroom for BYD in 2023.

Now, he runs six dealerships devoted to the brand.

“Some people think because it’s Chinese it’s made cheaply,” he said. “But then I ask, ‘Where do you think your iphone is assembled?’”

Chinese cars are gaining ground in Britain for a mix of reasons.

There are no steep tariffs on Chinese EVS – unlike in the EU or the US – allowing lower prices. British buyers are also less brand-loyal, with no major domestic mass-market automaker to defend.

Roughly a dozen Chinese brands, including BYD, Chery and Geely, made up 13% of new car registrations in Britain in November, double their share a year ago, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

“The pace is like nothing the market has ever seen,” said Ian Plummer, chief commercial officer of Autotrader.

BYD and Chery, selling Jaecoo and Omoda models, are gaining market share five or six times faster than Tesla a decade ago or South Korea’s Kia in the 1990s.

Britain’s domestic auto industry has been shrinking, producing about 600,000 cars in 2025, roughly half of the output at the end of the last decade.

Major producers include Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover and Mini.

Meanwhile, China is now the world’s largest car exporter and leads in EV production, exporting to markets from Mexico to South Africa.

Chinese automakers have mastered shifting regulations and consumer demand, particularly for hybrids.

Beijing encourages exports to manage domestic overcapacity, sometimes leading to heavy losses and triggering pushback in Western countries.

The US has imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese EVS, the EU up to 45%, while Britain charges 10% on all imported cars.

About two million new cars are sold in Britain each year.

Since 2019, the number of brands registering sales has nearly doubled to over 70.

No single brand commands loyalty like Volkswagen in Germany or Renault in France, giving newcomers room to grow.

Chinese brands first gained a foothold with SAIC Motor’s acquisition of MG.

Production gradually moved to China, and the UK MG factory closed in 2016.

MG now accounts for over 4% of new registrations – the largest share for a Chinese-owned brand – while BYD holds just over 2%, similar to Tesla.

Keith sold his first car in 1980 at 16 and later expanded his family business.

By the early 2020s, he noticed BYD and,

“Some people think because it’s Chinese it’s made cheaply. But then I ask, ‘Where do you think your iphone is assembled?’”

Dougal Keith

with other independent dealers, secured one of the first UK franchises.

Initially, sales were slow, with only an all-electric model available.

As more models arrived, particularly plug-in hybrids, sales surged.

Dealers highlighted tech features: rotatable touch screens, wireless chargers, voice controls, even karaoke.

“Customers are beginning to understand it’s not a budget brand,” said Fozia Siddique, who has worked with BYD since the Leeds showroom opened.

She recently sold a BYD plug-in hybrid SUV to Steve Vine, 55, who drives more than 480km from Leeds to Cornwall and wanted a long-range EV.

Roger Lyons, 60, in Derbyshire, chose a £48,000 BYD Seal Excellence after testing Audi, Hyundai and Porsche models.

“It’s almost as nice to drive as a Porsche, and it’s got more toys than any of the others,” he said, adding that switching to electric would help cut fuel costs.

Encouraged by the success of BYD, Keith opened two more dealerships selling Changan vehicles.

His group, which runs 28 dealerships selling global brands, expects £500mil in sales for 2025, over 50% higher than 2024.

In September, the Leeds BYD showroom outsold all his other local locations.

“It’s pretty good going for a brand that two years ago nobody had heard of,” he said. — ©2026 The New York Times Company

By ESHE NELSON This article originally appeared in The New York Times

3 Jan 2026