The Chinese government has called on the United States to immediately lift its decades-long blockade and punitive sanctions against Cuba [1, 2].
This diplomatic pressure signals Beijing's growing role as a vocal defender of Havana, highlighting the friction between the U.S. and its Caribbean neighbor. The move comes as Cuba seeks international support to challenge the legality of the U.S. trade restrictions.
In a statement from Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry described the U.S. measures as coercive and harmful to the Cuban people [1, 2]. The ministry said the sanctions have no basis in international law [1].
This call for action follows strong rhetoric from Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. In remarks from Havana, Díaz-Canel said the sanctions constitute a threat of genocide [3]. Following these assertions, the Cuban leader sought a special session of the United Nations General Assembly to address the crisis [1, 2].
China said that the U.S. restrictions cause severe hardship for the Cuban population [1, 2]. The Chinese Foreign Minister said the United States should end the blockade to stop the ongoing punitive effects on the island [2].
Beijing's intervention aligns with Havana's efforts to frame the blockade as a violation of global norms. By leveraging its position in the UN, China aims to isolate the U.S. position on the issue while strengthening its own strategic ties with the Cuban government [1, 2].
“"The sanctions constitute a threat of genocide."”
The alignment between Beijing and Havana underscores a strategic effort by China to challenge U.S. hegemony in the Western Hemisphere. By framing the U.S. blockade as a humanitarian crisis and a violation of international law, China seeks to increase its diplomatic leverage within the United Nations and solidify its partnership with Cuba.
