Taipei: Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced Tuesday that approximately 200 Taiwanese nationals residing in Venezuela are confirmed safe following recent U.S. military operations in the country aimed at apprehending its former leader, Nicol¡s Maduro.

According to Focus Taiwan, the U.S. military initiated a series of airstrikes over the weekend in Venezuela, culminating in the detention of Maduro, who was subsequently transported to New York alongside his wife. The former Venezuelan leader is facing federal charges pertaining to drug trafficking and alleged ties with gangs identified as terrorist organizations. Maduro has refuted these allegations.

In response to concerns about the safety of Taiwanese citizens amid the military activities, MOFA informed CNA that Taiwan’s representative office in Colombia, responsible for Venezuelan affairs, had reached out to all Taiwanese nationals in Venezuela, confirming their safety and well-being.

MOFA has issued a red travel alert for Venezuela, the highest-level warning, due to the escalating political instability. The ministry has advised Taiwanese to avoid traveling to Venezuela unless absolutely necessary and urged those currently in the country to leave immediately, as stated in a press release.

Additionally, the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) affirmed on Tuesday that all Taiwanese nationals in Venezuela are safe, citing information from Anderson Yu, a leader of the Taiwanese Business Chamber in the country. The OCAC highlighted that an emergency assistance association, established in 2018 for overseas Taiwanese in Venezuela, has been activated in response to the current crisis.

According to OCAC data, 17 Taiwanese businesses are currently operational in Venezuela, engaging in sectors such as auto parts, food processing, cosmetics, surveillance cameras, orchid cultivation, and acupuncture and massage services.