China pledges to ‘firmly support’ Cuba as US escalates pressure on Havana

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun declared on Monday that China will "firmly support" Cuba, despite the United States' escalating pressure on the island nation. Speaking at a Beijing press briefing to mark the 66th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Guo emphasized China's commitment to preserving Cuba's sovereignty and national interests, stating that China would support Cuba in its pursuit of a socialist development path aligned with its national conditions and protect its sovereignty against external interference.

Cuba's recognition of the People's Republic of China in 1960 marked the first Latin American nation to do so. Guo highlighted the steady progress achieved in building a community with a shared future between China and Cuba under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. However, Guo refrained from announcing new aid or naming the United States, adopting a more conciliatory tone compared to Beijing's stance at the United Nations.

On Saturday, Vice-President Han Zheng addressed the UN General Assembly, urging the "relevant country" to cease threatening Cuba with force and lift the blockade and sanctions entirely. This came four days after US President Donald Trump stated his administration's goal of fundamentally altering Cuba's situation, describing the island as a failed state destined to fall. The Cuban delegation responded by walking out of the assembly.

Tensions between China and the United States over Cuba intensified following January, when the US cut off Venezuela's oil supply after capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. In May, Trump signed an executive order labeling Cuba as an "unusual and extraordinary threat." The US State Department subsequently sanctioned five state-run entities in Cuba's energy, mining, and financial sectors, as well as a grandson of former leader Raul Castro.

The escalating pressure has had a significant impact on Cuba, with the power grid facing hardships, leading to a complete collapse earlier in the month that left millions without electricity. Tourist arrivals in the first seven months of the year plummeted by 62 percent compared to the previous year, according to official statistics.

Recent reports suggest that the US Army Reserve is evaluating the possibility of deploying military police, medical staff, and other units to US Southern Command within four months, with the operations reportedly aimed at Cuba. US officials confirmed that the internal Army message did not explicitly name the island, but Chinese media reported it.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is spearheading talks with Havana, stated last week that Cuba had a "golden opportunity" to change course, while Trump claimed that Rubio was "deeply engaged in negotiations with Cuba" and vowed that Washington would not permit a haven for foreign adversaries near the United States. Havana has not reported any progress in the talks, and Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio accused Washington of an "international crime" for obstructing oil supplies.

China responded to the US sanctions with $80 million in emergency financial assistance and a donation of 60,000 tonnes of rice in January. A Chinese vessel delivered 15,000 tonnes of that rice to Havana in May.