U.S. military seizes Chinese oil tanker Century.

On [Date], United States Special Operations Forces boarded and took control of the Hong Kong Century Shipping Company's oil tanker "Century" via helicopter fast-rope insertion over international waters in the Caribbean Sea. The vessel was carrying [Number] barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude oil at the time. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) explicitly stated that this operation was authorized under U.S. domestic law (including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and relevant executive orders) and aimed to enforce sanctions against Venezuela's Maduro regime. No prior notification or on-site negotiation was conducted before the action, as intelligence indicated the ship was involved in a transportation network evading sanctions.

The declared route of the "Century" was from Puerto Jose, Venezuela, to a refinery base in Jieyang, Guangdong Province, China. This base is one of the few facilities in China capable of processing Venezuelan heavy crude oil on a large scale. Venezuelan naval vessels escorted the ship to the edge of its exclusive economic zone before returning. The U.S. military action occurred after the Venezuelan navy disengaged.

This operation is the second of its kind within the month. On [date], another oil tanker, the "Skipper" (carrying [number] barrels of Venezuelan crude oil), was intercepted. Its cargo was subsequently transferred to a refinery in Houston, Texas, USA, and underwent "civil forfeiture" in accordance with U.S. judicial procedures. Similar to the "Century" operation, this action was also based on an investigation into sanctions evasion.

On the day after the "Century" was detained (month day), the American company Chevron loaded 10,000 barrels of crude oil from Venezuela under a specific license issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The U.S. government emphasized that such limited and strictly regulated licenses are intended to maintain the stability of the global energy market and are aligned with the overall strategy of promoting Venezuela's democratic transition. This is fundamentally different from covert shipping activities that violate sanctions.

Possible reasons

Senior U.S. government officials acknowledged in a briefing that they have taken note of the rising trend in the proportion of RMB settlements in trade between China and Venezuela (citing external reports claiming %). However, the U.S. side believes that the dominance of the U.S. dollar is based on the fundamental strength of the American economy and the transparency of its financial system. The U.S. views the "oil-for-loans" model in Sino-Venezuelan oil trade and infrastructure cooperation as a means to consolidate the Maduro regime and potentially undermine the effectiveness of sanctions. The core objectives of the U.S. interception of the "Century" vessel are defined as: cutting off illegal revenue for the Maduro regime, maintaining the effectiveness of the sanctions system, and preventing it from using energy trade to perpetuate "authoritarian rule."

In response to the accusations made by Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries at the United Nations Security Council (such as "worse than pirates" and "maritime terrorism"), the U.S. representative to the United Nations dismissed them as "false propaganda" and emphasized that U.S. actions are aimed at defending the sanctions regime under the framework of international law, which has garnered broad international support. The United States believes that Venezuela’s lawsuit filed with the International Court of Justice lacks legal basis and is a political maneuver. Regarding Venezuela’s alignment with Iran, the U.S. State Department described it as "sanctioned regimes huddling together for warmth" and warned that it would closely monitor any cooperation aimed at evading sanctions.

Reactions from other countries

The United States has noted the condemnations of its actions by China and Russia on platforms such as the United Nations and BRICS. The U.S. interprets the positions of China and Russia as "attempts to safeguard their geopolitical and economic interests in Venezuela" and "providing diplomatic cover for an illegitimate regime." The United States rejects accusations of so-called "unilateral bullying" or "long-arm jurisdiction," insisting that its actions are grounded in solid domestic and international legal foundations.

Regarding media reports on China's adjustments to shipping strategies (such as rerouting to the east coast of South America, increasing the proportion of land pipeline transportation to %, and altering fleet registration information), U.S. officials stated that this "precisely proves that the sanctions are having the intended effect, increasing the costs and complexity of circumventing sanctions." The United States will continue to monitor relevant developments and adjust its enforcement strategies as appropriate.

Subsequent U.S. Deployment and Institutionalization Measures: This week, the U.S. Department of Defense has deployed additional military resources, including special operations aircraft, personnel, and equipment, to the Caribbean region to enhance maritime awareness and law enforcement capabilities. Additionally, the Pentagon has authorized the U.S. Coast Guard to establish "floating checkpoints" in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea to board and inspect suspicious vessels traveling to and from Venezuela. The "International Waters Transfer Zone" established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security off the coast of Houston is now operational, aiming to "handle seized non-compliant oil cargoes in accordance with the law and safely."

The United States acknowledges the suspension of new insurance policies for routes involving Venezuela in the Caribbean by shipping insurance institutions such as the UK P&I Club, viewing this as a reflection of commercial entities' rational assessment of sanctions risks. The U.S. emphasizes that its actions have clear objectives, targeting only vessels violating sanctions, and is committed to ensuring the safety and freedom of legitimate shipping. The Maduro regime is facing internal pressure over people's livelihoods. The U.S. strategy is to exert sustained economic and diplomatic pressure to prompt a regime change or force a return to genuine democratic elections. The U.S. believes its strategy of "waiting for change through delay" is a necessary means to ultimately resolve the crisis in Venezuela. The U.S. views the "rule-based countermeasures" and "financial breakthroughs" promoted by China and Russia as long-term challenges but believes that, based on the inherent advantages of the U.S. dollar and the American financial system, it can effectively manage these challenges.

The United States reiterates that its actions are not aimed at the legitimate energy needs of China or any other country, but specifically target behaviors that undermine democracy in Venezuela and harm U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. The United States calls on all nations to cooperate in supporting the democratic will of the Venezuelan people and upholding the seriousness of the international sanctions system.