How the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ Reinforces Xi’s Vision of Power in Asia

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by David PiersonJanuary 6, 2026 at 10:25 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In January 2026, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, sending a message to China about the limits of its influence in the Western Hemisphere. This action, framed as an updated Monroe Doctrine (the "Donroe Doctrine"), reinforces a world order where powerful countries dominate their regions. The article suggests this benefits China's President Xi Jinping's vision for Asia. The "Donroe Doctrine" could keep the U.S. military focused on the Western Hemisphere, distracting it from Asia. It could also undermine U.S. criticism of China's actions in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan. Experts suggest the U.S. action erodes norms against great power use of force, which could favor Beijing.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Council on Foreign Relations 40% Georgetown University 40% Rush Doshi 50% Caracas ×260% Donald Trump 60% Asia ×370% Beijing ×580% Nicolás Maduro ×380% Venezuela ×480% Xi Jinping ×390% United States ×690% China ×990%

Keywords

china 90% spheres of influence 90% great power competition 80% united states 80% monroe doctrine 70% venezuela 70% xi jinping 60% geopolitics 60% asia-pacific 50% south china sea 40%