Veteran Chinese journalist Alex Lo has suggested, somewhat sarcastically, that the Nobel Peace Prize should be renamed the Nobel War Prize. This remark is part of his critique of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who recently received the prestigious award.
In its formal announcement, the Nobel Committee referred to Machado as a “champion of peace,” stating that she helps to “keep the flame of democracy burning.” However, her past support for foreign intervention in Venezuela has led to significant debate regarding her designation as a peace advocate. Critics have pointed out that her earlier statements indicate a more militaristic perspective.
In 2019, Machado was quoted as saying that only a “credible and imminent threat” of international military action could effectively remove President Nicolas Maduro from power. She has also expressed support for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and has justified U.S. actions against drug boats, arguing they are necessary to disrupt Maduro’s funding sources from illegal drug trafficking.
Reports have indicated that Machado and her advisers coordinated with the Trump administration on strategies to oust Maduro, raising further skepticism among experts regarding her alliances with right-wing politicians, including former U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Lo’s opinion piece in the South China Morning Post reflects similar concerns. He highlighted that Machado was nominated for the Nobel Prize by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio when he was a senator, with support from Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Lo noted that Machado has stated in an interview with CBS News that only U.S. forces could “stop the suppression” in Venezuela.
Lo critiques the notion of celebrating someone who praises the U.S., which has historically regarded Venezuela as an adversary and is known to conduct military operations in the region. He asserts, “Whether Machado is a hero or villain, a national liberator or traitor, is something very much dependent on your political position. But she doesn’t seem the kind of peacemaker Alfred Nobel had in mind.”
In related discourse, some social media users have recalled that Alfred Nobel was once labeled the “Merchant of Death.” This nickname originated in 1888 when a French newspaper mistakenly published an obituary for Nobel instead of his brother, Ludvig. The article criticized him for amassing wealth through explosives and arms, a label that significantly impacted Nobel.
Nobel, who invented dynamite and owned Bofors, a prominent arms manufacturer, was troubled by this designation. To reshape his legacy, he drafted a will in 1895 dedicating the majority of his fortune to prizes that would reward individuals for significant contributions to humanity in the fields of science, literature, and peace. The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, effectively transforming his public image.
