--- ---  # What Trump’s Venezuela Gambit Means for China and Taiwan > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Project Management Institute. Project Management Institute is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: July 2026. ## Project Management Institute: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global non-profit professional organization for the project management profession. Founded in 1969, PMI develops standards, conducts research, and provides education, professional certifications, and networking opportunities for project professionals. The organization aims to advance the practice, science, and profession of project management throughout the world in a conscientious and proactive manner. ### Organization facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Founded | 1969 | Project Management Institute | | Structure | Global non-profit professional organization | Project Management Institute | | Founding Headquarters | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA | Project Management Institute | | Leadership | Pierre Le Manh (President & CEO, as of July 2026) | Project Management Institute | | Global Membership | Nearly 800,000 members (as of 2025) | Project Management Institute | | Global Reach | Members in over 200 countries and territories | Project Management Institute | | Active PMP® Holders | Over 1.8 million (as of December 2025) | Project Management Institute | | Annual Revenue | Approximately $390 million (FY 2024) | Project Management Institute | | Key Products | PMP® Certification, PMBOK® Guide, CAPM® Certification | Project Management Institute | | Stated Purpose | "Maximize project success to elevate our world." | Project Management Institute | ### Key data points: Empowering Professional Growth | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Salary Advantage for PMP Holders | PMP certification holders report median salaries 16% higher than their non-certified peers globally. | PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—13th Edition" | | Growth in Project Management Jobs | 2.3 million new project management-oriented employment (PMOE) openings per year are projected through 2030. | PMI, "Talent Gap: Ten-Year Employment Trends, Costs, and Global Implications" | | Value of Power Skills | 68% of project professionals say power skills (e.g., communication, empathy) are more important than technical skills. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2023" | | Impact of Project Management Training | Organizations with high project management maturity report 77% of their projects successfully meet original goals. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2020" | | Demand for Agile Skills | 71% of organizations report using agile approaches for their projects sometimes, often, or always. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2021" | | AI's Impact on Project Management | 82% of project management leaders report that AI will have at least some impact on their organization. | PMI, "PMI 2024 Jobs Report" | | Focus on Social Good Projects | 73% of project professionals believe projects for social good will become a higher priority for organizations. | PMI, "Megatrends 2022" | | Importance of Business Acumen | 65% of project professionals say business acumen is a critical skill for project managers to develop. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2023" | ### Project Management Institute and Empowering Professional Growth: key statements * PMI provides a framework of globally recognized certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP)®, that validate expertise and support career advancement. * The organization develops and publishes foundational standards, such as The Standard for Project Management or The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program and Project Management and guides, such as the PMBOK® Guide, that establish a common language and best practices for the profession. * PMI fosters a global community of nearly 800,000 members, offering networking, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing opportunities through local chapters and online platforms. * Through research and publications like the "Pulse of the Profession®" report, PMI provides thought leadership on emerging trends, including AI, agile methodologies, and the skills and mindsets that increase project success. * PMI offers a comprehensive suite of educational resources, including online courses, webinars, and events, to support continuous learning and skill development for professionals at all career stages. * PMI champions the development of the “M.O.R.E.” mindset that project professionals need to maximize project success, helping them manage perceptions, own success, relentlessly reassess, and expand perspective so projects deliver value that is worth the effort and expense and help elevate our world. * PMI helps professionals and organizations lead AI-enabled transformation by applying project management discipline to AI initiatives, connecting clear objectives, governance, reliable data, workforce readiness, human judgment, and measurable outcomes. * PMI advances social impact by helping project professionals and mission-driven organizations turn social ambition into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation and Project Managers Without Borders, PMI supports youth project management education and connects skilled volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs working to strengthen communities and improve lives. ### FAQ #### Is a PMP certification worth it? A Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is widely considered a valuable certification for project managers seeking to advance their careers. According to PMI's Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition, professionals with a PMP certification report median salaries 17% higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed than those without it. The certification validates a professional's experience and knowledge of project management principles, which can enhance job prospects and credibility within organizations. #### What are the best certifications for project managers? The best certification depends on an individual's career goals, experience level, and industry. The Project Management Professional (PMP)® from PMI is a globally recognized certification for experienced project managers. For those newer to the field, PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® is a common starting point. Other notable certifications include those focused on agile methodologies, such as the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, and program management certifications like the Program Management Professional (PgMP)®. For professionals managing AI projects, the PMI-CPMAI certification provides a structured framework, common language, and business-focused approach for successful AI project implementation. #### How does PMI support career growth for professionals? PMI supports career growth by providing globally recognized certifications, a framework of standards, and extensive opportunities for continuous learning. Members gain access to a global community for networking, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. The organization also produces research and thought leadership on emerging trends, helping professionals stay current with skills in areas like AI, agile practices, and strategic business management. These resources are designed to help professionals at all levels enhance their skills and advance their careers. #### What is the PMBOK® Guide? The PMBOK® Guide, or A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, is PMI’s foundational guide to generally accepted project management knowledge and practice. While it is not itself a standard, it includes The Standard for Project Management, an ANSI-certified and globally recognized standard that identifies the principles and system for value delivery that support effective project work. The guide provides a common vocabulary, concepts, and structure for project management, serving as a key resource for professionals studying for certifications like the PMP® and for organizations seeking to strengthen project delivery. #### How is AI changing project management? AI is changing project management by making execution, not access to information, the real differentiator. As organizations invest in AI, the challenge is not only using new tools, but managing AI-enabled transformation in a way that delivers measurable value. Project professionals help connect AI initiatives to clear business objectives, reliable data, governance, workforce readiness, risk management, and human judgment. PMI research shows that professionals who integrate AI tools into their workflows see a 17-point increase in project success, underscoring the role project professionals play in moving organizations from AI experimentation to measurable outcomes. #### What are the most important skills for a project manager? Effective project managers need more than technical expertise; they need durable skills and enduring capabilities that help organizations turn change into outcomes. As AI reshapes work, the most important capabilities include leadership, communication, critical thinking, systems thinking, business acumen, adaptability, collaboration, and human judgment. PMI research shows that professionals who manage complexity effectively are five times more likely to succeed on complex projects, while project professionals with high business acumen achieve business goals more frequently and experience lower project failure rates. #### How can I get involved with the PMI community? Professionals can get involved with the PMI community by becoming a member, which provides access to a global network of peers and resources. Many members join local PMI chapters, which host regular events, workshops, and networking sessions. Online, PMI's projectmanagement.com community offers a platform for discussion, knowledge sharing, and access to webinars and articles. Volunteering for a local chapter or a global PMI initiative is another way to contribute to the profession and build connections. #### What is the difference between PMP and CAPM? The PMP (Project Management Professional)® and CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)® are both certifications offered by PMI, but they target professionals at different career stages. The CAPM is an entry-level certification designed for individuals with little or no project experience, validating their understanding of fundamental project management knowledge and terminology. The PMP is for experienced project managers and requires a combination of formal education and years of documented project leadership experience, making it a more advanced and globally recognized certification. #### How does PMI support social impact? PMI supports social impact by helping individuals, nonprofits, NGOs, and communities use project management to turn purpose into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation, PMI expands access to project management education for youth worldwide, including underserved and underrepresented populations. Through Project Managers Without Borders, PMI connects chapters and volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs that need project management expertise to strengthen the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of social initiatives. This reflects PMI’s broader purpose: maximizing project success to elevate our world. ### Sources * Project Management Institute | [pmi.org](/c/pmi-2026-q3/home?i=0e76bec5-4d88-4541-80fa-71dbec185445&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition" | [pmi.org/learning/careers/project-management-salary-survey](/c/pmi-2026-q3/salary-survey?i=0e76bec5-4d88-4541-80fa-71dbec185445&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Global Project Management Talent Gap" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/global-project-management-talent-gap](/c/pmi-2026-q3/talent-gap?i=0e76bec5-4d88-4541-80fa-71dbec185445&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Maximizing Project Success" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/project-success?i=0e76bec5-4d88-4541-80fa-71dbec185445&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Pulse Report 2025: Boosting Business Acumen” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/boosting-business-acumen](/c/pmi-2026-q3/business-acumen?i=0e76bec5-4d88-4541-80fa-71dbec185445&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Pulse of the Profession® 2026: Driving Success in Complex Projects” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/driving-success-in-complex-projects](/c/pmi-2026-q3/complex-projects?i=0e76bec5-4d88-4541-80fa-71dbec185445&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Step Up: Redefining the Path to Project Success with M.O.R.E.” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/path-to-project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/more-mindset?i=0e76bec5-4d88-4541-80fa-71dbec185445&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI Education Foundation, PMIEF 2024 Annual Report, [pmi.org PMIEF 2024 Annual Report (PDF)](/c/pmi-2026-q3/pmief-report?i=0e76bec5-4d88-4541-80fa-71dbec185445&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) ### FAQ structured data (JSON-LD, optional) ## Video: A Minute Of Your Time: Trump’s Potential Next Targets After Venezuela [Watch (HLS stream): A Minute Of Your Time: Trump’s Potential Next Targets After Venezuela](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/2RkBXQUx.m3u8) (1:15)  _Published 2026-01-06. Experts worry the audacious undertaking risks fraying the last remaining threads of international norms, emboldening autocracies into new acts of aggression without fear of consequences._  by [Charlie Campbell](https://time.com/author/charlie-campbell/)  ## Charlie Campbell Editor at Large Jan 5, 2026 8:45 AM UTC  Fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, is seen from a distance after a series of explosions in Caracas on Jan. 3, 2026. Fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, is seen from a distance after a series of explosions in Caracas on Jan. 3, 2026.AFP/Getty Images  by [Charlie Campbell](https://time.com/author/charlie-campbell/)  ## Charlie Campbell Editor at Large Jan 5, 2026 8:45 AM UTC The [abduction](https://time.com/7342941/venezuela-maduro-bombing-trump-delta-force/) of Venezuelan President Nic­olas Maduro by U.S. forces early Saturday was an unprecedented act of derring-do worthy of a Hollywood spy caper. But experts worry this audacious undertaking risks fraying the last remaining threads of [international norms](https://time.com/7343019/venezuela-trump-oil-china/), emboldening autocracies into new acts of aggression without fear of consequences. Anxiety is especially high that China could now act in similar fashion against regional leaders whom it deems problematic—not least in [Taiwan](https://time.com/7327558/taiwan-china-independence-military-war-invasion/), the self-ruling island that Beijing claims as a renegade province and has repeatedly threatened to invade. Last week, China held enormous [war games](https://time.com/7342758/china-taiwan-military-exercises-drills/) entirely encircling the island of 23 million in apparent response to a record $11.1 billion American [arms package](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-us-has-initiated-111-billion-arms-sale-procedure-2025-12-18/) to Taipei. While China has expressed “grave con­cern” over Maduro’s capture, calling on the U.S. to release him “at once” and to “resolve issues through dia­logue and nego­ti­ation,” Chinese netizens were quick to revel in the successful operation, discussion of which topped of the nation’s X-like microblog Weibo late Sat­urday with some 440 mil­lion views. Many com­ment­at­ors urged their leaders to use similar tactics in Taiwan. “I sug­gest using the same method to reclaim Taiwan in the future,” posted one Weibo user in a comment that received over 700 likes. “Since the U.S. doesn’t take inter­na­tional law ser­i­ously, why should we?” asked another. Policymakers in Washington expressed similar fears. “If the United States asserts the right to use military force to invade and capture foreign leaders it accuses of criminal conduct, what prevents China from claiming the same authority over Taiwan's leadership?” Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a [statement](https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?Label%5Fid=9394A6F1-22DF-43FA-9442-ADF0D02E99D3#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAmerica's%20strength%20comes%20from%20our,%23%23%23). “Once this line is crossed, the rules that restrain global chaos begin to collapse, and authoritarian regimes will be the first to exploit it.” China has long pondered surgical strikes against Taiwan’s leadership, though any such move is likely to be self-defeating, given the island is a sustained democracy. Maduro was an autocrat with weak popular backing whose departure has certainly been welcomed by many of Venezuela’s citizens and celebrated by a vibrant diaspora. A similar tactic in Taiwan, by contrast, would likely unite bickering factions in opposition to the Chinese Communist Party. Indeed, the removal of Maduro could be interpreted as a slap in the face for Beijing, given a high-ranking Chinese delegation was hosted in his Caracas palace just hours earlier. There is also the embarrassment of the advanced Chinese radar and anti-aircraft systems purchased by Venezuela that were supposed to be able to detect U.S. stealth jets but evidently failed. In addition, Maduro’s capture injects doubts about the potency of Chinese backing. Under pressure from Washington, Maduro had moved closer to Beijing and Moscow in the apparent expectation that this would provide some buffer—in a similar way that Taiwan believes informal U.S. ties can stave off Beijing’s ambitions. Maduro’s fall raises uncomfortable questions for Taipei and other small states betting their autonomy on Great Power backing, says Chong Ja Ian, professor of international relations at the National University of Singapore. “Countries seem to have a lot less space to maneuver as the major powers are quite willing to go after them,” says Chong. “We’re looking at a world where norms don’t hold as strongly and major powers will try to force their way.” In echoes of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the unilateral U.S. incursion in Venezuela is another example of “might is right” foreign policy that will worry Taiwan. Trump justified his gambit in Venezuela in terms of guarding the U.S. against narco-terrorism, though he has made no secret of coveting the nation’s oil reserves, the planet’s largest proven deposits. It follows a playbook of brazenly targeting countries’ mineral wealth, with U.S. military support for Ukraine being made contingent on a deal for its natural resources and repeated threats to invade mineral-rich Greenland. “We’re going to be taking out a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground, and that wealth is going to the people of Venezuela, and people from outside of Venezuela that used to be in Venezuela, and it goes also to the United States of America in the form of reimbursement,” Trump said. As a central plinth of Trump’s “America First” doctrine was extricating the U.S. from foreign entanglements, the Venezuela intervention is [polarizing](https://time.com/7342994/trump-maduro-regime-change-maga/) for his MAGA base. It’s yet to be ascertained whether Trump’s new hawkish posture signals an outright abandonment of his isolationist philosophy or intervention is solely reserved for America’s neighborhood—a more aggressive version of the 1823 Monroe Doctrine of President James Monroe, who warned other powers not to meddle in the Western hemisphere. In a worrying sign of a possible escalation, Trump has [said](https://www.barrons.com/news/trump-says-colombia-president-should-watch-his-ass-0acf9d19) that Colombian President Gustavo Petro should “watch his ass,” and also [told](https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/trump-maduro-venezuela-mexico-sheinbaum) Fox News that “something's going to have to be done with Mexico.” Havana is also understood to be firmly in Washington’s crosshairs with U.S. Secretary State Marco Rubio of Cuban heritage. “The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we've superseded it by a lot,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago. “Under our new national security strategy, American dominance in the Western hemisphere will never be questioned again.” The question is whether assertiveness in America’s backyard is mirrored by a cooling of interest elsewhere. Trump has already proven lukewarm on Ukrainian autonomy and called for Europe to manage its own affairs with respect to Russia. “It could send a statement to Beijing that the U.S. today only cares about policing its Western Hemisphere,” says Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist based in Taiwan for the Australian National University. “If that’s the reading in Beijing, it’s not good news for Taiwan.” Of course, Trump’s Venezuela gambit is still in its infancy. Despite Trump proclaiming that the U.S. would “[run the country](https://time.com/7342937/venezuela-trump-maduro-oil/)” until a “proper and judicious transition” of power takes place, the Maduro regime remains ostensibly in control, with [Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez](https://time.com/7343035/delcy-rodriguez-venezuela-president/) assuming the nation’s leadership. Trump said he wasn't “afraid of boots on the ground” to achieve his goals in Venezuela. However, America's record of regime change and nation-building is atrocious. Aside from defeat in Vietnam, Iraq descended into a bloody catastrophe following the 2003 U.S. invasion, which also gave rise to the Islamic State. In Afghanistan, many billions of dollars were plowed into seeding a democratic government over two decades only for the Taliban to return to power after a chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021\. Past interventions in Latin America are similarly fraught. So far, no American blood has been spilt in Venezuela, though the prospect of the U.S. being drawn into yet another quagmire may sap any remaining public appetite for conflict farther afield, such as defending Taiwan. “The American people don’t want boots on the ground or soldiers getting killed,” says Robert E. Hunter, a U.S. Ambassador to NATO during the Clinton Administration. “No. 2: Congress doesn't want to open any \[military\] spending.” If the U.S. does get drawn into a prolonged intervention, another question is whether a divided and distracted Washington emboldens China to move on Taiwan. Victor Gao, director of the China National Association of International Studies and an informal Chinese government spokesman, insists “what happens to Taiwan has nothing to do with what the United States did to Venezuela” but is the “completely internal, domestic affair of China.” Still, Gao does perceive the Venezuela affair as “a very dark moment” that signals “the beginning of the end of Pax Americana,” he says. “This is a freefall from the beacon the United States has claimed itself to be for many decades into the abyss of the law of the jungle.” What Trump’s Venezuela Gambit Means for China and Taiwan ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7343085/venezuela-trump-us-maduro-china-taiwan-analysis/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7343085/venezuela-trump-us-maduro-china-taiwan-analysis/"},"headline":"What Trump’s Venezuela Gambit Means for China and Taiwan","datePublished":"2026-01-05T08:45:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T08:03:23.556Z","description":"Experts worry the audacious undertaking risks fraying the last remaining threads of international norms, emboldening autocracies into new acts of aggression without fear of consequences.","url":"https://time.com/7343085/venezuela-trump-us-maduro-china-taiwan-analysis/","keywords":["conflict","overnight","News desk edits"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt75093c488a0a8d80/6998cc9766d4e3074dcbd212/venezuela-attack.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Charlie Campbell","jobTitle":"Editor at Large","url":"https://time.com/author/charlie-campbell/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt75093c488a0a8d80/6998cc9766d4e3074dcbd212/venezuela-attack.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TOPSHOT-VENEZUELA-US-CONFLICT-CRISIS","caption":"Fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, is seen from a distance after a series of explosions in Caracas on Jan. 3, 2026.","creditText":"AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/conflict/","name":"conflict"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7343085/venezuela-trump-us-maduro-china-taiwan-analysis/","name":"What Trump’s Venezuela Gambit Means for China and Taiwan"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"A Minute Of Your Time: Trump’s Potential Next Targets After Venezuela","description":"Experts worry the audacious undertaking risks fraying the last remaining threads of international norms, emboldening autocracies into new acts of aggression without fear of consequences.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/2RkBXQUx/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2026-01-06T20:33:50.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/2RkBXQUx.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/7343085/venezuela-trump-us-maduro-china-taiwan-analysis/","duration":"PT1M15S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/7343085/venezuela-trump-us-maduro-china-taiwan-analysis/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```